Basketball in Africa

By Dann O’were

Newcomers to the basketball Premier League, Eagles Wings, will play their first game on Saturday, Kenya Basketball Federation officials have announced.

The team comprises players of the disbanded national champions, Telkom. Eagles Wings start off their league campaign against Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.

The Juja-based students are yet to win a league match in more than a year. And this season, they have played and lost four matches.

Eagles Wings’ next game will be against United States International University on Sunday and Catholic Dream Team on August 4.

Their other matches will be against University of Nairobi Dynamites before travelling to Mombasa to face Kenya Ports Authority and Sprite Storms a week latter.

Meanwhile, the Sasanet Nairobi Basketball Association League resumes this weekend at the Hope Centre. The matches were shelved due to court refurbishing at Railways Club.

ANA Milele on Monday whipped the Seychelles women’s national side 57-40 in an international friendly match at Nyayo National Stadium gymnasium.

Yana, with speedy Judith Akoth in control, wheeled away 18-7 in the opening quarter and were never threatened.

Yana sailed to a smooth 31-16 advantage at the breather with Caroline Achieng, Volnet Wanyama, Linda Anyango, Dottie Owino and Pamella Sinda in the thick of things.

After intermission, Seychelles regrouped with veteran player and captain, Simeone Malbrook, Linda Mathiot and Simone Asba playing the key role. But they had little to offer.

In the last quarter, Yana were comfortably ahead 45-24 as the teams made substitution at will. Akoth pepped Yana with 15 points, Achieng 14 while Anyango had 12.

For Seychelles, who are using the friendly to prepare for next month’s Indian Ocean Games set for Madagascar from August 9 to 19, Mathioh made eight and Lucia Douffe 10.