19 April 2007
KENYA : Tough Times Ahead for National Women's Basketball Team
By Khadija Yusuf And Gilbert Wandera
Nairobi
The national women's basketball team have a tough assignment awaiting them in the forthcoming All Africa Games set for July 11-23 in Algiers, Algeria.
The girls will be tested in the preliminaries where they will have to push past defending champions Nigeria, Tunisia, Senegal, Mali and Zimbabwe.They launch their campaign for continental glory against Tunisia, who are no pushovers.
The tough nature of the pool has compelled the Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) to recall its veteran players based in the United States to bolster local players ahead of the Pan-African games.
Those contacted include Rose Ouma, Miryam Wandanda, Josephine Achieng, Beatrice Awino, Maureen Obudho and Jacqueline Wasuda.
"We are optimistic the US-based players will make it and strengthen the side as we prepare to face the continent's best teams. Most of them have promised to have joined us by June 25," the KBF fixtures secretary, Steven Nyakina, told SportFest on Wednesday.
The official said Nairobi-based players will resume training at the Nyayo Stadium on Monday under the tutelage of coaches Ronnie Owino and Thomas Olubo.
Those in Mombasa will be training at the KPA gymnasium under coach Anthony Ojukwu.
Those expected to resume camp in both cities include Angela Luchivya, Volnet Wanyama, Samba Mjomba, Angela Okoth, Eunice Ouma, Rabecca Karenga and Joyce Makungu.
Others are Caroline Achieng, Caroline Arato, Gladys Wanyama, Millicent Anyango and Hilda Luvanda.
Pool 'A' has hosts Algeria, DRC Congo, Angola, Ivory Coast, Cameroon and Mozambique.
Elsewhere, the women's handball team has been placed in Group 'B'.
Others are Cameroon, Nigeria and Congo. Group 'A' has Algeria, Tunisia, Ivory Coast and Angola.
According to fixtures released by the organisers, Kenya play their first match against Cameroon on July 11. They'll then take on Nigeria before winding up their group fixtures against Congo.
In other Group 'B' fixtures, Congo open their campaign against Nigeria before taking on Cameroon.
In Group 'A', Angola take on Tunisia with Ivory Coast taking on Algeria on the first day. Tunisia play Ivory Coast with Algeria confronting Angola on the second day.
On the third day, Angola have a date with the Ivorians with Algeria clashing with Tunisia.
Kenya Amateur Handball Association chairman F K Paul said they are in a difficult pool, but expressed confidence they would prevail.
"Cameroon are the defending champions and our other opponents are worthy adversaries but we are not complaining. We will give it our best shot," said the official.Kenya were placed seventh out of eight countries during the eighth All Africa Games held in Abuja, Nigeria in 2003.
"We will seek to improve on that performance by doing much better this year," he said.
He said the team will begin preparations next week at Nyayo National Stadium.
Nairobi
The national women's basketball team have a tough assignment awaiting them in the forthcoming All Africa Games set for July 11-23 in Algiers, Algeria.
The girls will be tested in the preliminaries where they will have to push past defending champions Nigeria, Tunisia, Senegal, Mali and Zimbabwe.They launch their campaign for continental glory against Tunisia, who are no pushovers.
The tough nature of the pool has compelled the Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) to recall its veteran players based in the United States to bolster local players ahead of the Pan-African games.
Those contacted include Rose Ouma, Miryam Wandanda, Josephine Achieng, Beatrice Awino, Maureen Obudho and Jacqueline Wasuda.
"We are optimistic the US-based players will make it and strengthen the side as we prepare to face the continent's best teams. Most of them have promised to have joined us by June 25," the KBF fixtures secretary, Steven Nyakina, told SportFest on Wednesday.
The official said Nairobi-based players will resume training at the Nyayo Stadium on Monday under the tutelage of coaches Ronnie Owino and Thomas Olubo.
Those in Mombasa will be training at the KPA gymnasium under coach Anthony Ojukwu.
Those expected to resume camp in both cities include Angela Luchivya, Volnet Wanyama, Samba Mjomba, Angela Okoth, Eunice Ouma, Rabecca Karenga and Joyce Makungu.
Others are Caroline Achieng, Caroline Arato, Gladys Wanyama, Millicent Anyango and Hilda Luvanda.
Pool 'A' has hosts Algeria, DRC Congo, Angola, Ivory Coast, Cameroon and Mozambique.
Elsewhere, the women's handball team has been placed in Group 'B'.
Others are Cameroon, Nigeria and Congo. Group 'A' has Algeria, Tunisia, Ivory Coast and Angola.
According to fixtures released by the organisers, Kenya play their first match against Cameroon on July 11. They'll then take on Nigeria before winding up their group fixtures against Congo.
In other Group 'B' fixtures, Congo open their campaign against Nigeria before taking on Cameroon.
In Group 'A', Angola take on Tunisia with Ivory Coast taking on Algeria on the first day. Tunisia play Ivory Coast with Algeria confronting Angola on the second day.
On the third day, Angola have a date with the Ivorians with Algeria clashing with Tunisia.
Kenya Amateur Handball Association chairman F K Paul said they are in a difficult pool, but expressed confidence they would prevail.
"Cameroon are the defending champions and our other opponents are worthy adversaries but we are not complaining. We will give it our best shot," said the official.Kenya were placed seventh out of eight countries during the eighth All Africa Games held in Abuja, Nigeria in 2003.
"We will seek to improve on that performance by doing much better this year," he said.
He said the team will begin preparations next week at Nyayo National Stadium.
# posted by afrbk : 15:28
