Tennis players from Arusha International Conference Centre (AICC) have been locked out of the International Tennis Federation’s money circuit tourney that gets underway in Dar es Salaam today.

AICC’s player Pius John said most of the players would remain at home due to lack of funds to meet the tournament’s costs.

“I don’t think we will participate in the tournament because we did not manage to secure sponsorship to meet travel and accommodation costs for the event,” said John.

He said Tanzania Tennis Association (TTA) did not give them cooperation that was needed to solicit funds.

The problem is equally faced by their neighbours club’s players of Arusha Gymkhana.

Efforts to contact TTA officials for comment failed to materialise.

AICC Club had a superb record in the last year’s ITF East Africa money circuit tournament when their Nairobi-based trio of Jonas Jacob, Yassin Shaaban and Mary Godson excelled.

Jacob powered to the men’s singles final only to lose to Jean-Claude Gasigwa of Rwanda while Shaaban managed a semi-final berth, losing to Jacob.

Godson had a successful debut in the ladies’ singles losing in the semi-final by Kenyan Caroline Oduor.

The absence of Arusha players would possibly dent hopes of host nation’s progression towards the podium.

Hope is rested on DGC players to salvage the country’s pride in the tournament.