Basketball in Africa

- Kenya named her final 12 players who will do duty for the country in the Zone Five All Africa qualifiers in Kigali , Rwanda next month. Dropped from the squad are 2003 All Africa Games captain Evalyne Kedogo who plays for Sprite Storms and Telkom's Judy Akoth. Releasing the names of the players, head coach Ronny Owino gave debuts to two players who will be donning national colours for the first time. These are rising United States International University (USIU) pair of guard Samba Mjomba and forward Angela Okoth.

Also receiving her first call up is Yana 's Violet Wanyama and Telkom's Rebecca Sarange. Six experienced players made the team highly tipped to top the Rwanda show. Eunice Ouma, Joyce Makungu, Caroline Achieng (Telkom), Gladys Wanyama, Caroline Arato, Millicent Anyango (KPA), Hilda Luvandwa and Angela Luchivya of Storms complete the 12 team personel.

In the men's category, Owino said that national champions Ulinzi Warriors utility guard Victor Odendo and KCB Lions Lewis Muya were out of the team due to injuries. Also excluded from the team is University of Nairobi "Terrorists" Eugene Genga. One more player out of 13 will be dropped few days before the departure to the Central Africa nation. "We now have 13 players and will make our final submission on Tuesday." said Owino whose list includes late call ups Dan Gaiko, Patrick Kirui and Roy Kahure. The week long Kigali tournament throws off on February 3. The top teams in each category will book a ticket to the Pan Africa Games in Algeria in July.

Already powerhouse and favorites Egypt have confirmed entry as are Ethiopia , Kenya , Burundi and host Rwanda . The other expected are Eritrea , Uganda , Tanzania , Sudan and Somalia .

Dann O'Were FIBA Correspondent Kenya