Kenya’s Fiba team now at full strength
Equity Bank Hawks' Mercy Wanyama (right) shields the ball from KPA's Yvonne Akinyi during their Kenya Basketball Federation women's Premier League play-off game five finals on February 13, 2017 at Nyayo Stadium. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |
What you need to know:
- The foreign-based duo of Purity Adhiambo and Vilma Awino have linked up with the Kenya women’s team preparing for the upcoming FIBA Afro Basket Zone Five qualifiers.
- The Kenyan men and women’s national teams will take part in the biennial competition slated for March 12 to 18 in Cairo, Egypt.
- The two players joined their compatriots who have been training at the Nyayo National Stadium Gymnasium since last week.
The foreign-based duo of Purity Adhiambo and Vilma Awino have linked up with the Kenya women’s team preparing for the upcoming FIBA Afro Basket Zone Five qualifiers.
The Kenyan men and women’s national teams will take part in the biennial competition slated for March 12 to 18 in Cairo, Egypt.
The two players joined their compatriots who have been training at the Nyayo National Stadium Gymnasium since last week.
Their arrival is a boost to the team, which last qualified for the continental competition in 2013.
It means the women’s 22-player squad training is now at full house.
Winners of the qualifiers will take part in the Fiba Africa Championships slated for Brazzaville, Congo from August 19 to 30. The Kenyan ladies lost to neighbours Uganda in the 2015 qualifiers.
Adhiambo was based in Uganda for most of last year before moving to Bangladesh this year, while Awino plays in Uganda.
David Maina, who recently led Equity Bank Hawks to their maiden Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) women’s Premier League, title is in charge of the team while Carey Odhaimbo of Co-op Bank is handling the men’s side.
Maina expressed delight at the arrival of the two foreign-based players saying their presence would lift morale among the other players.
"This is awesome because now we can be able to assess everyone and their strengths'. We have a very short time to prepare and we intend to do as much as possible with the remaining period," Maina told Nation Sport.
Players from Hawks as well as losing finalists Kenya Ports Authority form the bulk of the 22 man team. Mercy Wanyama, who was voted the league's MVP, top scorer Hilda Indasi, captain Samba Mjjomba and former nationaal team captain Silalei Shani represent the national team.
KPA has dynamic quartet of Natalie Akinyi, Betty Kananu, Yvonne Akinyi and 2015 Zone Five Club Championship MVP Celine Okumu in the squad.
Twenty seven players have been called up to the men's team. The side has been boosted by the return of Tylor Okari who plays professionally for Swedish Premier League side Solna Vikings.
The 25 year old Okari has been missing from the national team for the last four years since making his debut in 2011 during an All-Africa Games qualifier match against Rwanda.
Both sets of squads will bet trimmed to 12 each before the final squad is named.
