Basketball in Africa

Story by ABDULRAHMAN SHERIFF, FRANCIS MUREITHI and PHILLIP ONYANGO
Publication Date: 2/18/2008

Shimo la Tewa, Baptist, Tudor and Taru secondary schools booked their places in the semi finals of the Ramadhan Kajembe basketball tournament after topping their groups during matches at Baptist ground in Mombasa on Saturday.

Baptist topped group A of the schools category after winning both their matches against Taru (57-13) and Khamis (41-7). Taru finished second after winning a match over Khamis (27-10).

Shimo la Tewa finished top in group B after recording 26-23, 45-17 victories over Tudor and Serani respectively with Tudor taking second spot having beaten Serani 21-19.

Taru were drawn against Shimo with Baptist facing Tudor in semi-final matches slated for Sunday afternoon at the same venue.

In the girls schools category, Shimba Hills defeated Waa Girls 27-18. The two schools were to meet again Sunday for the final match as they were the only girls teams to confirm participation.

Early results for matches played on Saturday were: Rollers 26 Makupa Lakers 35; Makande Rebels 48 Buxton Hawks 23; Makupa Lakers 39 Ocean Airs 13; World of Life 32 Buxton Hawks 34.

The tournament which attracted capacity crowd was organised by the Coast Basketball Federation (CBF) under the leadership of its newly elected chairman, Helmi Ali.

In Nakuru, The on and off Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) Rift Valley branch elections which were set to be held at Menengai High School , Nakuru Sunday were postponed in the eleventh hour.

Delegates from various clubs which included Egerton university, Nakuru Youth and Nakuru Club were already seated in the hall ready to cast their votes when they were informed by the returning officer Albanus Mala that the elections had been cancelled..

The outgoing secretary general Richard Kanda said that the polls had been shelved after the delegates from Eldoret and Kericho said they could not attend the polls due to the security situation in the country following the post-election violence in their respective areas.

Kanda who has declared his interest for the post of the chairman said the elections will now be held at the same venue on Saturday.

Other candidates who have shown keen interest in the vacant positions include Sejo Delewa (chairman), Jack Okongo (treasurer), Edwin Odour (assistant secretary, Abel Kimondo (fixtures secretary), Miriam Ndungu and Michael Kariuki who are eying the assistant treasurer seat.

At the same time, the Kenya Basketball Federation national office has issued a strong warning to individuals who have allegedly planned a parallel Coast Basketball Federation elections in Mombasa Monday that they will be banned from all federation activities if they go ahead with the polls.