Basketball in Africa

Six US-based players have been named in the national women's basketball team for the All Africa Games, to be held in Algiers next June.

Morris Aluanga, the All Africa Games general team manager, said the six will boost the Kenya team, which failed to reach the semi-finals during the last championships in Nigeria.
Aluanga said Kenya will call-up the former Mombasa High School quartet of Miriam Wandanda, Josephine Achieng Owino and Beatrice Awino Oyenje, at Union University in Tennessee, and Jackline Achieng Wasuda, in Texas.
Also targeted is talented guard Rose Ouma, at Lewis and Clerk in Illinois, and Maurine Obudho, who is at Cisco University.
Aluanga said the six will join the national team training camp one month before the championships to allow them time to blend with the other players.
"We are in the process of writing letters to the universities, seeking the players' release," said Aluanga.
"We hope that all will work according to our plans as we seek to win Kenya's first ever continental title in women's basketball," he said.
Aluanga, also the national basketball team's fund-raising committee chairman, said his committee will request the government to fund the players' travel.
However, the committee will also launch a fund-raising initiative to fund the team's expenses..
The national basketball team head coach, Ronnie Owino, said the decision to fly in the US-based players was good news from the KB. He predicted Kenya would win the All Africa Games.
"With such talent abroad, there is no way Kenya would fail to win the continental title," Owino said.
Beatrice Awino, who is the tallest player at Union University, has fitted in well with the team while Josephine Achieng has won several regional titles after joining her university two years ago.