Nyayo to host only Premier League matches

What you need to know:

  • Previously, both Premier and Lower-tier league matches were played at Nyayo leaving the weekend programme congested
  • He said Nyayo National Stadium cannot host more than five matches a day which had previously contributed to the delay to end the national league within a calendar year
  • He said all Premier League and Division One teams should be prepared to play their matches in Kisii, Kisumu, Eldoret and Kakamega when the new season begins

Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) will only host the men and women’s Premier League matches at Nyayo National Stadium Gymnasium when the 2019 season gets underway in March.

KBF competitions secretary Joseph Amoko Friday said for the purpose of ending this year’s national league in good time, all the men and women’s Division One and Two league fixtures will be played at United States International University of Africa (USIU-A) Outdoor Courts.

He said the federation will acquire portable 24 second clocks to be used at the outdoor courts to ensure the standards of the game are maintained. He said a modern scoreboard will also be installed at Nyayo Stadium before the new season begins.

Previously, both Premier and Lower-tier league matches were played at Nyayo leaving the weekend programme congested.

Amoko said last year’s season was successful with the women’s finals match between Kenya Ports Authority and Equity Bank ending on December 16 without spilling to this year as it had happened in the last two seasons. Equity Bank defeated KPA 73-64 in Game Four to win the 2018 Premier League title 3-1. “We now have to maintain the same standards by hosting matches at USIU-A and Nyayo Stadium at the same time,” said Amoko.

Amoko thanked USIU-A management for allowing the federation to host all regular season matches at their premises while Nyayo Stadium was undergoing renovations.

Only the best-of-three series play-offs semi-finals and best-of-five finals matches were held at Nyayo last season.

He said Nyayo National Stadium cannot host more than five matches a day which had previously contributed to the delay to end the national league within a calendar year.

With men and women’s national teams set to take part in the All Africa Games and Nations Cup qualifiers, KBF wants adequate time for preparations by concluding this year’s national league in November.

He said all Premier League and Division One teams should be prepared to play their matches in Kisii, Kisumu, Eldoret and Kakamega when the new season begins to decongest the first and second leg fixtures.