KPA teams gear up for Fiba Zone Five action

What you need to know:

  • KPA men will be going for their first zonal title after missing out on a podium finish in Kampala last year
  • Both teams played two league matches over the weekend aptly warming up for the regional event
  • According to Ojukwu, the absence of star forward Felmas Koranga, who left for the US on a basketball scholarship in August, is a big blow to his title ambitions

Kenya Ports Authority men’s and women’s teams started residential training in Mombasa on Monday for the Fiba Zone Five basketball club championships that tip off in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on Sunday.

While KPA women will be seeking to retain the title for the third straight year, their male counterparts will be going for their first zonal title after missing out on a podium finish in Kampala last year.

Both teams played two league matches over the weekend aptly warming up for the regional event. KPA women beat USIU Flames and KU Oryx 56-28 and 58-41 respectively while the men beat USIU Tigers 68-58 but went down 72-66 to bitter rivals Ulinzi Warriors. The loss ended KPA’s unbeaten run in the men’s league this season.

KPA women’s head coach Anthony Ojukwu, who took the players through their paces at the KPA Hall Makande Monday morning, said he was working mainly on the players fitness and execution and believes the three days camp will be of great help.

“I have lined up two training sessions a day, one in the morning and the other one in the evening and believe that should help us to build the much needed chemistry ahead of this games which I believe will be tough”, he said.

Kenya Ports Authority’s Felmas Adhiambo (right) challenges Berine Okoth of Kenyatta University during their basketball league match at the KPA Makande Gymnasium in Mombasa on July 29, 2017. KPA won 92-24. PHOTO | KEVIN ODIT |

According to Ojukwu, the absence of star forward Felmas Koranga, who left for the US on a basketball scholarship in August, is a big blow to his title ambitions.

But he was quick to point that he already has a replacement whom he said he would name at the right time.

“It is an open secret that we have been struggling a bit since Koranga, who was our mainstay inside the paint, left, but slowly we are adjusting and should be good to go by the time we leave for Dar es salaam on Friday,” he said.