Basketball in Africa

Story by CAXTON APOLLO
Publication Date: 10/17/2007

International Yvone Akinyi has been dropped from the Maputo-bound Kenya Ports Authority women’s basketball team squad which leaves this morning for the Africa basketball club championship in Mozambique.

Head coach Sammy Wanjohi said Akinyi, who was in Kenya’s team which finished bottom in the Africa Cup in Dakar, Senegal, recently was ruled out of the squad by doctors due to illness.

Akinyi’s place has been taken up by Carol Mureji, who will be making her first appearance in the continental championship.

KPA will also miss the services of another international star, Gladys Wanyama, who has left the country for the United States on a study scholarship. The 13th edition of the Africa club championship, which has attracted a total of 12 teams, will run between October 17 and 28.

Defending champs

The dockwomen registered a moral boosting 113-16 win over Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology on Saturday but relaxed their offense to allow unbeaten Flames of the United States International University rock them 58-53 on Sunday.

Angola’s Primwero De Agosto will be defending the Africa Cup which they won in Libreville, Gabon last year. Hosts Mozambique have entered three teams; Ferroviario, Desportivo and ISPU.

Other teams are: Dolphins, First Bank (Nigeria), BC Lupopo, Arc-en-Gel (DRC), Sotrata (Madagascar), Djoliba (Mali) and ABC (Cote D’ Ivoire).

Meanwhile, Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) has suspended long serving fixtures secretary, Stephen Nyakina, for misconduct. Vice-chairman Henry Shihemi said the decision to show Nyakina the door on financial irregularities as reached during last weekend’s executive-committee in Nairobi.

He said Nyakina had failed to account for the league registration fees which was paid to him by both the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology men and women’s teams.

KPA squad:

Susan Anyango, Mercy Malemba, Caroline Arato, Mwajuma Suleiman, Everline Akoth, Fadhya Mohamed, Irene Murambi, Milicent Anyango, Carol Mureji, Winnie Akinyi, Agnes Anyango and Miriam Awuor. Coaches: Anthony Ojukwu and Sammy Wanjohi.