Nasila living the American dream

• She risked her job and family ties but got scholarship that gave her a better life

Exactly 16 years ago, Nasila Achieng’ left the country for the United States of America unceremoniously.

The then clerical officer at the giant Kenya Ports Authority, a well  paying  job, and all the allowances associated with playing for KPA basketball team, which not many Kenyans would want to leave behind, Nasila opted to go to a foreign land to start a new life.

Since then, not many Kenyans have heard of Nasila. In fact, some people in the sports fraternity had even spread a rumour that she died a long time ago in the US.

But when  the Nation caught up with her in Oklahoma City on February 28, Nasila portrayed the image of someone living a good life, more decent than that of the average Kenyan in his country.

A graduate of East Central University in Oklahoma, Nasila works with the Oklahoma Department of Human Services in Muskogee as a child welfare specialist, drawing a salary that is obviously bigger than that of a parastatal head in Kenya.

She now lives in her own house and drives a luxurious brand new Ford double-cabin truck, one of the most elegant vehicles in the US.

The 6.1 foot former  KPA and Kenya basketball star had quietly acquired an American visa which enabled her to study and play basketball in the US.

Since applicants had to pay for their own airfare to the US, Nasila says she opted to wait for the opportune time, which came during the Kenya Communications Sports Organisation (Kecoso) Games where she earned good allowances for playing in the KPA basketball and netball teams.

This, together with her small savings, was enough for her air ticket to the ‘Land of Opportunities’ where she intended to start a new life as a student with the hope that her life would change for the better.

Quietly communicating

“Me and Miriam Awiti, another Kenya international who was then an employee of Kenya Railways, were quietly communicating with the East Central University College coach on the possibility of going abroad for further studies,” Nasila recalled.

They did not want their plan to leak because they could not have been easily released by their employers, she added.

It is then that the duo arranged with an accomplice to book for them a ticket on a date they were through with the basketball programme at the Kecoso Games, then taking place in Nakuru.

Nasila and Awiti then sneaked out of the Kecoso camp in Nakuru and headed straight to the airport and off to the US.

“You can imagine that I did not even tell my parents about my trip to the US  because my mother would have easily objected  to it after frustrating several other attempts I had made to fly out on basketball related programmes,” Nasila said.

Nasila, who led the national women’s basketball team to the World Cup when the country finished second to Senegal in the Africa Cup of Nations in 1992, is arguably the best utility player Kenya has ever produced.

Ready for national duty

She said she is ready to don the national colours again if given the opportunity.

After playing for her college team, Nasila joined Oklahoma Titans women’s basketball team, which she plays for to date.

“I believe that I am still strong enough and active to lead Kenya to international honours. I will be more than ready to play for my country again when asked to do so,” she said during a recent interview.

On her contacts with the family, Nasila says her mother has since forgiven her for travelling out of the country without informing her and that they are now very good friends.

“I talk to my mother an average of everyday. I have already built her a modern residential house, among many other projects that I have started at home.”

Place in team guaranteed

Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) national chairman Paul Otula and the Nairobi Branch chairman, Ronnie Owino, are upbeat that Nasila is willing to play for the national team again.

“I guarantee her a place [in the national team], to wear the national colours during future international events, if she continues to maintain her top form,” Otula said about Nasila, who is 37 years today.

He aptly pointed out that Cameroon football legend Roger Milla played impressively in the World Cup aged 43.