The wait is over and the boys say they are ready to rumble at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club (LLTC), Onikan, today.

It is time for the much-anticipated Davis Cup World Group 11 Promotion Playoff between Nigeria and Uzbekistan and the setting cannot be better.

Uzbekistan has players higher rated than Nigeria, but the home lads don’t care. To Coach Benson Itsicheli, the action on the courts is what manners and not any paper rating.

The draw was held yesterday at the LLTC with Nigeria’s Canice Abua picked to open proceedings against Uzbekistan’s Khonoyun Sultano by 9.00 a.m.

The day’s proceedings will end with the second game between Nigeria’s Daniel Adeleye and Uzbekistan’s Abdulaziz Usmanjonov.

Today’s action will begin with Abubakar Yusuf meeting Sukrob Saidon, while Michael Emmanuel will trade strokes with Ilya Ignaton. That would be followed by the doubles featuring Nigeria’s duo of Abubakar Yusuf and Micheal Emmanuel against Sukrab Saidov and Ilya Ignaton. The reverse singles, which could be decisive in the battle for promotion, will see Daniel Adeleye battling with Khumoyun Sultanov and Canice Abua versus Abdulaziz Usmonjonov.

Speaking after the draw, Team Nigeria Coach, Benson Itsichelli, assured Nigerians that his boys are ready for the battles against the better-rated Uzbeks.

He said: “I have done my own side of the job and I believe the players are ready to make good use of this great opportunity to write their names in gold.

“These players want to showcase themselves. These guys have not had the opportunity to travel around the world like theirmopponents, but they have been training very hard.

“I don’t see any difference despite Uzbekistan’s higher ranking. We all play the same backhand, the same forehand and how you apply it is what matters. You will see the magic tomorrow.”

Itsichelli called on Nigerians to come out en masse to support his team.

“We need as many people as possible in the stands because we are going to killed giants, which we have done before.

“We were in South Africa where my player was rated 1,000 in the world and he defeated somebody in the world’s top 300.

“it’s the racket and ball that will judge. It’s not about the number.”

He said that the players have been prepared to deal with the psychological effect of playing in front of a large number of supporters, adding that they will deal with the pressure that comes with it effectively.

“This is what these guys have been looking for. They want to show Nigerians what they can do. They are ready,” Itsichelli enthused.