Relegated Trailblazers fail to show up for KPA showdown

Relegated Trail Blazers on Saturday failed to turn up for their last National Classic Basketball league regular season match against Kenya Ports Authority men’s team after failing to travel to Mombasa.

“They (Trailblazers) have confirmed that they will not be in Mombasa for the match which to them was going to be of no consequence since they have been relegated while we will also still top the table whether we win or lose," Christopher "Magic" Ogutu, KPA team manager told Nation Sport.

Stephen Okwako, Trailblazers' founder in 2000 as a player-cum-coach, on Saturday said it was sad the team had finally dropped to the second tier after three seasons in the top flight.

“I'm deeply saddened that Trailblazers have been officially relegated from the Kenya Basketball Premier League. It’s been a tough season but I believe the team is in high spirits and shall give its best in the Division One in 2019 and bounce back," he said.

Okwako said he started the team with a vision of playing in the country’s top league, which came to pass in 2015.

"Sadly after three seasons on top, the axe has fallen on us and I believe the setback is a set up for a comeback," Okwako, who now plays for Umoja also in the top flight league, said.

He paid tribute to former teammates Alex Oguso, Ish Nyamache, David Ondeyo, Robert Andiwo, Joshua Vuva and team Manager Jammoh Jimmiey who stuck with the team long after his departure.

An international coach and basketball enthusiast, Okwako has heaped a lot of praise on the Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) for helping non-institutional clubs honour fixtures.

“KBF have been tailor-making the league fixtures to help self-sponsored teams plan well despite a myriad challenges facing them”, he said.

Meanwhile, the National classic basketball leagues regular season matches which were to be played on Saturday but were pushed to Sunday to pave way for the All-Star Basketball festival that was earmarked for the Nyayo National Stadium will go on as planned.

KPA women, who had two weekend fixtures against Footsprints and Masaku Sparks, will now play all the fixtures on Sunday.

FIXTURES

At Egerton University

9.00am- Egerton v KAA

10.30am- Nakuru Club v Emyba

At KPA Hall Mombasa

2.00pm -KPA v Foot Prints

4.00pm -KPA v Trailblazers

At Eldoret

9.00am -Eldonets v KU Pirates

At Kakamega Police Canteen

9.00am- Nebulas v Baobab

At USIU

9.00am - ANU v Kisii University

9.00am- Ku Oryx v Masaku Sparks

10.30am- Gladiators v UON Dynamites

10.30am- JKUAT v Kisumu Lady Bucks

12.00n- Zetech University v Western Delight

12.00nn- USIU v Eagle Wings

At Egerton

9.00am-Egerton vs Baobab

At KPA

9.00am- KPA vs Masaku Sparks

At USIU

9.00am -JKUAT v KISII University

9.00am 4 Christ v Blazers

10.30am Gladiators v Kisumu Lady Bucks

10.30am USIU v KU Oryx

12.00nn Anu v Terror

12.00nn JKUAT v Eldonets(WD1)

1.30pm K U Pirates v Nakuru Club

3.00pm JKUAT v KAA

3.00pm Eagle Wings v KU Oryx

4.30pm Blades v Equity