Basketball in Africa

Story by PHILIP ONYANGO

Marion Githengi, a Kenyan basketball player living in Britain, has been included in the Kenya team that starts training today for the All Africa Games to be held in Algiers in July.

Githengi, a 20-year-old student, was included in the team after the Kenya Basketball Federation verified her past records.
KBF chairman, Agina Wasonga, said the star guard was upbeat and ready to play for Kenya. She has lived in London since she was seven, but holds a Kenyan passport.
Githengi, who stays with her step-father, James Hogge, also a basketball coach in London, had requested to be included in the team after she learnt that KBF officials were contacting Kenyan players in US colleges to beef up the squad ahead of the games.
Githengi has twice been named in the British under-16 and under-20 teams after an impressive performances at school level, but could not play because she holds a Kenyan passport.
“From her profile, I think she will be very useful for Kenya in Algiers. We have, therefore, decided to call her up,” Agina said.
National team head coach Ronnie Owino welcomed Githengi’s inclusion in the team, and said he expected her combination with Rose Ouma, currently at Lewis and Clerk College in the US, could be lethal.
Owino was, however, worried that Kenya might lack height advantage in Algeria after Union University declined to release Beatrice Awino Oyenje for national duty due to examinations.
Josephine Owino may also not be released as she has to sit her examinations.
The coach said he had spoken to Union University women’s basketball coach, Mark Campbell, who said Oyenje, who, at 6’6, is the tallest basketball player at her college, was unavailable for the All Africa Games.
Oyenje, who left the country last year while a Form Three student at Mombasa High School, must pass the examination to be allowed to play in the university team next season.
In the absence of Beatrice, Owino has been trying to contact Miriam Wandanda, also based in Tennessee.
Other US-based players being sought by the coach include Rose Ouma, Jackline Wasuda, and Miriam Obudho.
Owino has also included four more players in the team which starts non residential training today at the Nyayo National Stadium under himself and Thomas Smarts Olumbo.
They are Anastasia Njeri, Judy Akoth, Brenda Angechi and Pamela Sinda.