KPA come calling in Nairobi
What you need to know:
- Kenya Ports Authority teams will start this year’s Kenya Basketball Federation Premier League first leg with four away matches at Nyayo National Stadium Gymnasium this weekend.
- On Saturday, KPA, who reclaimed the men’s Premier League championship title last year after beating Co-op Bank 3-1 in the play-offs final, will take on hosts Equity Bank.
- The dock men will wind up their first two-match tour of Nairobi this new season against Blades Sunday.
Kenya Ports Authority teams will start this year’s Kenya Basketball Federation Premier League first leg with four away matches at Nyayo National Stadium Gymnasium this weekend.
On Saturday, KPA, who reclaimed the men’s Premier League championship title last year after beating Co-op Bank 3-1 in the play-offs final, will take on hosts Equity Bank.
The dock men will wind up their first two-match tour of Nairobi this new season against Blades Sunday.
After failing to recapture the women’s league championship after Equity Bank rocked them 3-2 in the tough 2016 play-offs final, KPA will open their title defence with two matches in Nairobi.
The dock women, who lost 73-68 to Equity Bank in the play-offs decisive Game Five will, start as favourites against lowly rated Kenyatta University Oryx on Saturday.
On Sunday, KPA will play Ronnie Owino’s coached Strathmore University.
KPA headcoach Anthony Ojukwu will rely on Felmas Adhiambo, Natalie Akinyi and Yvonne Akinyi to damage the two university teams Oryx and Strathmore.
KPA men are expected to field newly recruited players led by former Ulinzi Warriors forward Victor Odendo. Others to watch in the team are Haroun Ramadhan, Tobias Onyango, Martin Kitonga and Victor Bosire.
Equity Bank cannot be underrated because they have also signed no nonsense forward Kevin Chogo from Thunder, who is expected to co-ordinate well with Brian Obimbo and Ian Wachie to deny the port men victory.
Blades failed to reach the play-offs last year after finishing seventh.
FIXTURES
Saturday
At Nyayo - Riara University v Emyba (8.30am), Oryx v KPA (10am), Co-op Bank v USIU-A Flames (11.30am), Thunder v KCA-U (1pm), Co-op Bank v Ulinzi Warriors (2.30pm), Equity Bank v KPA (4pm);
At Menengai High School - Nakuru Club v Nebulas (11am); At Upper Hill School - Blazers v MKU Thika (11.30am), Strathmore University v JKUAT (1pm), Daystar University v Kisumu Lady Bucks (2.30pm), Upper Hill School v Lakeside (4pm)
Sunday
At Nyayo - Masaku Sparks v Kisumu Lady Bucks ((10am), USIU-A Flames v Zetech University (11.30am), Strathmore University v KPA (1pm), Equity Bank v Eagle Wings (2.30pm), Lions v Umoja (4pm), Blades v KPA (6pm).
