Basketball in Africa

Java Warriors and Kisumu Lakeside have qualified for promotion to the 2007 men's basketball Premier League.

The two clubs earned promotion to next year's top competition by virtue of qualifying for the men's Division One league play-offs final.Kisumu Lakeside got off to a bright start in Game One of the best-of-three series when they defeated Nairobi's Java Warriors 67-61 in Kisumu at the weekend. The final in a mere formality to determine the 2006 lower competition champions since the two finalists automatically qualify to the Premier League.

Java Warriors will host Kisumu Lakeside at Nyayo National Stadium on Friday in the return Game Two tie in which they must win to avoid going down 2-0. A 1-1 tie will prompt the decisive Game Three to determine the winner. Java's coach Mike Mureithi said:" We have corrected our mistakes and focused to avenge the away defeat to tie the series 1-1"
The qualification of Lakeside has returned Nyanza region in the top flight basketball after a long time. Kisumu Lakers took part in the Premier League six year's ago and after their demotion after a one stint, the region has been lacking representation.
Lakeside coached by former international, James Nyasimi proved to be a force to reckon by finishing top in the nine-team Division One league with 29 points.
Java Warriors on the other hand, Nation Correspondentmissed this year's Premier League by a whisker when International Christian Centre knocked them out 2-0 in the 2005 Division One league play-offs semi-final.
ICC later lost 2-0 to Kenyatta University Pirates in the final but both teams qualified to promotion to this year's Premier League.Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) fixtures secretary, Stephen Nyakina said they intend to hold a meeting to determine the number of teams to take part in the 2007 Premier League.

Nakuru Club and Mombasa-based Coast Youth Club pulled out of the competition in the second round reducing the number of teams from nine to seven this year.

The two teams which faced financial problems to meet the travelling expenses and accommodation for their away matches in Nairobi had indicated to be reserved their slots in the 2007 championship.