Travelling KPA teams offer USIU tough test

What you need to know:

  • Kenya Ports Authority men and women’s teams will make their second tour of Nairobi to play hosts USIU-A.

Twenty-nine Kenya Basketball Federation league matches are lined up at Nairobi’s United States International University-Africa outdoor courts, St Peter’s High School in Mumias and Menengai High School in Nakuru this weekend.

Kenya Ports Authority men and women’s teams will make their second tour of Nairobi to play hosts USIU-A.

On Saturday, women’s defending champions KPA take on USIU-A Flames from 3pm before their male counterparts lock horns with USIU-A Tigers on Sunday at 4.30pm. On Saturday, Tigers will also host Kisumu-based Lakeside at the same venue.

KPA women clobbered newcomers Footprints 69-18 while the dock men rocked Trailblazers 61-29 during their tour of Nairobi.

USIU-A Tigers recovered to beat Word Hope 59-38 last weekend and the varsity students will be looking to use the home court advantage to spoil the party for KPA. KPA head coach Anthony Ojukwu has a strong bench led by Bridgit Nanzala, Felmas Adhiambo and Betty Kananu capable of silencing USIU-A Flames.

Flames, on the other hand, are working to build a new team after most of the experienced players cleared college and subsequently joined other top clubs.

KPA men’s coach Sammy Kiki of his experienced clutch of Alex Lugasi, Martin Kitonga, Samuel Ocholla and Evans Leting maintaining their unbeaten record.

In a top men’s Division One league match, high riding Blades, who beat Thunder 85-75 last weekend, will be seeking to maintain their winning ways when play World Hope.

Blades coached by Tonny Ochieng started the new season on a sound note beating Ulinzi Warriors 62-53 and also registered a 65-49 win over Lakeside among their impressive results.

In Saturday’s lower tier matches, Egerton University men and women’s teams will host KCA-U and Little Prince at Menengai High School starting at 9am.

In Mumias, Nebulas Kakamega will host Neosasa from Nairobi while Kisumu Lady Bucks will host newcomers Kisii University. Neosasa defeated Baobab last weekend before Upper Hill School cut short the celebration beating them 41-25.

Tomorrow, Trailblazers will have a date with Lakeside will Woodley Knights to play Blazers in their men’s Division Two match. Terrorists will square it out with Africa Nazarene University, Pirates to meet Emyba, Strathmore University to battle it out with Zetech Titans, KAA to play 4-Christ while Riara University to lock horns with MKU Thika.

FIXTURES

Saturday at USIU-A: ANU v JKUAT (9am), Riara University v 4-Christ (9am), Terrorists v Eldonets (10.30am), Zetech Titans v Emyba (12pm), Co-op Bank v Western Delight (12pm), Footprints v Equity Bank (1.30pm), JKUAT v Upper Hill School (1.30pm), USIU-A Flames v KPA (3pm), USIU-A Tigers v Lakeside (4.30pm), Blades v World Hope (4.30pm). Menengai High School-Nakuru: Egerton University v KCA-U (9am), Egerton University v Little Prince (10.30am), Nakuru Club v Lions (12pm). Kisumu Sports Ground: Kisii University v Kisumu Lady Bucks (9am). Mumias: Nebulas v Neosasa (9am):

Sunday: KAA v 4-Christ (9am), Riara University v MKU Thika (9am), Terrorists v ANU (10.30am), Pirates v Emyba (10.30am), KDF Morans v Eldonets (12pm), Strathmore University v Zetech Titans (12pm), Barclays Bank v Terrorists (1.30pm), Blazers v Woodley Knights (1.30pm), Kenyatta University Oryx v KPA (3pm), USIU-A Tigers v KPA (4.30pm), Trailblazers v Lakeside (4.30pm)