Basketball in Africa

Haitham El Said (198-F-82) of Al Zamalek
Haitham El Saharty (197-F-85) of Al Zamalek
Samir Mohammed El Hosseny (193-G/F-76) of Al Zamalek
Mohannad El Sabbagh (180-G-87) of Al Ittihad Alexandria
Ibrahim Ramy of Al Ittihad Alexandria
Heitham Kamel of Al Ittihad Alexandria
Mohamad Hosny (182-G-86) of Al Ahly
Mostafa Shaawat (205-C-87) of Al Ahly
Tarek El Ghanam (211-C-78) of Al Ahly
Mohamed Adly (211-C-87) of Al Ahly
Tamer Mostafa (187-G-82) of Al Geish Army
Mohamed Khorshed (205-C-85) of Sporting
Ramy Gunady (185-G-81) of Al Gezira
Wael Badr (193-G-78) of Al Zamalek
Sherif Gunaidi (183-G-79) of Al Gezira
Mostafa Meshaal (197-F-86) of Al Gezira

According to Vitalis Gode, the KBF secretary, the move has been necessitated by the current stand off between the federation and the teams that started after the failed meeting of March 21.
"We have decided to suspend the 2009 national league till further notice. This decision has been occasioned by current stand off by section of the clubs." Gode said in a letter to the Kenya National Sorts Council (KNSC).
The letter, dated April 26, has also been copied to the Sports Secretary Ministry of Youth and Sports and also to the continental basketball governing body - FIBA Africa.

A series of meetings between the KBF and team managers that started nearly five weeks ago, have so far failed to break the stalemate with each party standings its ground.
The last meeting at the Coca Cola Stadium on April 25 as invited by KBF followed another one on April 23 that went on past mid night at the Railway club, have so far bore no fruits.

Nellie Odera, the Team managers secretary says:" Unfortunately none of the KBF officials appeared for the said meeting. After most members had left, the treasurer appeared at 5.30 p.m with no letter."
Henry Shihemi, the KBF first vice chairman yesterday told Fiba Afrique that the team managers are now pushing for a different agenda other than the one on the table.
"They are talking about other things that are not possible like having votes during the Governing Council meetings". noted Shihemi adding "only the branch officials are welcomed in these meetings."

The league was programmed to throw off on April 4 with the first leg fixtures already drawn by fixtures secretary Joseph Amoko.
But the team managers have insisted that unless a meeting takes place between KBF and the teams to seriously address the burning issues, they will not be moved.

Two Tanzanians leave for Cote d�Ivoire on May 2, to attend the FIBA-sponsored International Basketball Referee Course.

Scheduled to start from May 5 to 8, the course is exclusive for referees holding FIBA badges, according to the president of Tanzania Basketball Federation (TBF) Richard Kasesera.
He named the referees included in the trip as Gozbert Boniface from Dar es Salaam and Mwanza-based Zulfikar Karim.
"They are the only referees qualified to officiate at international matches sanctioned by the Federation of International Basketball," he said.

Speaking to Sunday Citizen yesterday, one of the referees Gozbert Boniface said he would work hard during the course so that he qualifies for world class status.
Kasesera said the course has attracted referees from all over the world.

Sande Bashaija

Kampala

When Michael Karuiki crossed from Power to Youth Heaters two years ago at an estimated Shs1m, many in the basketball fraternity were ‘stunned’. It was a record transfer at the time – not because the player was joining a small club from a giant side – but the money paid for his signature was unbelievably too much at the time.

Yes, too much for one simple reason: the Federation of Uganda Basketball Associations (Fuba) constitution stipulates that not more than Shs75,000 can change hands for a player joining a Second Division side from the topflight and Shs100,000 for a transfer involving Division One clubs.

Yet the club also took care of Kariuki’s education needs. But the man behind that transfer – Peter Mubanda was never interested in exploiting that clause – he wanted the player, who at the time was the hottest item in Uganda’s basketball. Mubanda has since left Youth Heaters and the club relegated to the lower tier but he seems to have set the trend of splashing millions for players’ signatures.

Now technical director at men’s league champions DMark Power, Mubanda took basketball transfers to another level when he signed former two-time Most Valuable Player (MVP) Norman Blick for Shs20m in January.
In February, Donald Blick followed his brother to Power in a two-year deal worth Shs12m. The Blick brothers rank among Uganda’s best players but raking a combined Shs32m from one team was interpreted by some as a publicity stunt.

Sabuni Kamal, the chief executive director of CK Sports - a sports management company - represented the Blicks as they entered history books as Uganda’s highest earning basketball players.

“Athletes haven’t been getting enough compensation for their efforts. Maybe there has been lack of professionalism,” Kamal, who prefers to call himself super agent, stressed. “Sports is business and all stakeholders including sponsors should know that players deserve to enjoy the benefits of their sweat,” he added.

Before the dust over the Blicks’ transfer could settle, Power pulled off another big one at the beginning of March.

Rugby sensation Allan Musoke would be their next acquisition. Although the details of the two-year deal couldn’t be revealed, Musoke is a big asset to the team and should rank high on the salary chart. Much as Power signed a Shs50m sponsorship contract with DMark mobile, settling financial obligations of such player contracts will definitely leave them in a tight situation bearing in mind that they have to represent Uganda on the continent this year.

But the managers at Power have contingency plans. “We have a co-sponsor in Steak Out Restaurant and are still looking for others,” Mubanda stated. As Power took the driving seat in the transfer market, their rivals Falcons were doing their homework.

The six-time league champions, who surrendered the title to Power last year, pulled off the biggest transfer in Uganda’s basketball history when they re-signed Stephen Omony from Seychelles side PSL Hawks.

Omony, arguably Uganda’s most successful basketball player, penned a two-year deal worth Shs72m with his former team last Thursday.

Global crisis
Omony’s quality is unquestionable but for a club that has no sponsor to dish out Shs3m per month to one player is mind-boggling moreover with the uncertainty created by the current global economic crisis.

“It is unfortunate that people world over are worried about how to get money. At Falcons, we are driven by passion. That’s what keeps us aiming for perfection,” Falcons’ patron John Simbwa, said as he welcomed back Omony, who led the team to championships in 1998 and 99. “This is an historic moment for us,” Simbwa, who is believed to have dug into his coffers to pay Omony’s Shs2m sign-on fee.

But such deals never pass without controversy. “We had given Omony a down payment and agreed to give him Shs2.5m per month but its unfortunate Falcons beat us to his signature,” Kyambogo Warriors’ patron Ambrose Tashobya revealed. Omony is ready to refund the money since he got a better deal but the incident obviously infuriated the powers-that-be at Warriors.

“We met and resolved the issue. Our relationship with Omony remains solid,” Tashobya, who desperately tried to halt the player’s move to Falcons, said. Adding; “Such deals are good for our game.”

DEFENDING champions Baya extended their unbeaten run to three over the weekend at Victoria Gymnasium in the men’s division one championship, but it was MBU Rockers who were the talk of the town as they claimed the scalps of Premium Cobras.

Led by Cyril Agrippine, who got 29 points including six 3-pointers against his former team, With 29 points, Agrippine (left) keeps Rockers in the title race at his former team’s expenseMBU Rockers won the second and third quarters 24-14 and 23-16 on the way to an 85-76 win – their third in as many games for a maximum six points. Skipper Nigel Sinon netted 25 points and Roddy Fanchette added 14 in their team’s win.

Nigerian Alao Solomon top-scored in the match with 30 points, but could not stop his team from losing, while Darren Lesperance hit four treys for 12 points.

The disqualification of coach Guy Hall did not help the Cobras, who now have five points after two wins and a loss.

Baya stepped on the accelerator in the second half during which they scored 55 points and held Cascade Bullets to just four points in the final 10 minutes on the way to a 90-49 win.

Player of the year Jean-Paul ‘JP’ Camille came off the bench to score three treys for nine of his 21 points – the same total as small forward Dave Roseline – as Baya stay unbeaten in three games.

Dan Côme had the hot hands for mid-table Bullets with a game-leading 22 points.

To avoid having only a brief spell in the top flight, last year’s division two champions Mont Fleuri Dawgz must learn to calm their game and make the most of the opportunities that come their way.

Against RC Dynamics, they looked capable of getting their first win in three games as they held an 11-point half-time lead – 42-31– but they fell apart in the second half, which they lost 24-50.

RC Dynamics’ 81-66 win is their first in three games and they were paced by skipper Jean-Paul Desaubin with 23 points, while Emmanuel Larue added 13 and Kenneth Domingue got 11.

Captain and playmaker Reggie Ah-kong again led the Dawgz in scoring with 27 points, including three 3-pointers.

With five players – Neddy Fanchette (21), Jim Domingue 917), Karim César (16 including three treys), Bernard Bristol (14) and D. Julienne (13) – scoring in double figures, PLS Hawks had no trouble defeating visitors Praslin Warriors 103-50 for their second win in the two-round championship.

Captain Jackson Auguste netted 20 points for the Warriors, who are carrying the weight of the standings after two losses in as many outings.

Angels brought their number of wins to two in three games when they beat Beau Vallon Heat 95-53. They got 18 points from Kieren Agathine, while David Boniface added 16 and Franky Esther netted 15.
The Heat were led by Tony Barbé with 12 points.

The eight-team men’s division two is led by RA Herons, who are unbeaten in three games. Pointe Larue Falcons are also unbeaten but have a match in hand on the leaders.

Other than Juniors, who have played twice and lost both, all the other women’s teams have played once. Title pretenders Anse Etoile Stars, HotShots and Mont Fleuri have all won their first game.

G. G.

It is unfortunate that feuds that have threatened the survival of many local sports federations are slowly creeping into the Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF).

For the second time in a row, the KBF league failed to kick off at the Coca-Cola Stadium following a standoff between team managers and KBF officials even when teams were ready for action.

Team managers in the league have demanded that they be allowed to vote during KBF national elections, an issue that needs the amendment of the association’s constitution to be effected.

The differences continue even after the two groups met two weeks ago and promised to end the stalemate. However, what is coming out is that the two sides have failed to agree on issues concerning KBF constitution even as team managers feel they have a strong case.

This failure to agree over the issue is causing unnecessary anxiety, loss of time and revenue for players who earn a living from the sport. The hard-line stance taken by the warring factions is not healthy for the federation and the sport in general.

With the groups are still charged, commencement of the league remains uncertain and this may only make the already volatile situation worse. Delaying the kick off of the league may not be good for the players’ careers, considering that some of them are on basketball scholarships.

As stakeholders in the game, having the branches to vote during the election of national office bearers is in order and KBF national office should consider amending KBF constitution to accommodate all the branches during such exercises.

By Johnson Were

KIU basketball team has finally signed Mariam Tamale and Halima Nabusimba from Nabisunsa Girls School ahead of the new season starting on Friday.
Nabisunsa’s official Mwajuma Nabawanuka had refused to endorse the transfer saying that her club can’t give away players freely yet they invested a lot in them
Nabisunsa had earlier asked for sh0.5m for any player who intended to leave.

A1 Challenge and UCU’s Lady Canons had also showed interest in Nabisunsa’s players.
But Tamale and Nabusimba were declared free agents after completing their studies at Nabisunsa.

KIU coach Nimrod Kaboha said the two parties will boost his side

Itthad made it and sent Zamalek out of the Egyptian cup semi.. Itthad won only 2 po. scored by Moamen Abou El Anin before 4 seconds from the end.However, Ahly made an easy win over Somouha who couldnt resist Ahly loosing 48-63. The final game will take place in Cairo Stadium on the 15th of May.,police should do a better Job next game to secure the players and prevent any expected violence from both fans.

by africabasket.com

The second round of the Liberia Basketball Federation national championship starts during the week in Monrovia. Today Dream Team 1will hustle Mighty Barrolle in the first division while Timberwolves will rub shoulders with Survivals. Earlier in the day Deviers will face Habel Pointers. Tomorrow, Poenix will host Destiny Queens in a female show down. In the first division, defending champion NPA Pythons will battle Commissioners. Cestor Mogars will welcome Urban Invaders in the second division on Friday and the last action will fall between SOS Trotters will engage Georgia Blazers in the third division.

by africabasket.com

by Sande Bashaija
Kampala

Stephen Omony has returned to National Basketball League record champions Falcons after a six-year stint at Seychelles side PSL Hawks.
“My return is a personal decision because I have family issues to sort out,” Omony said after signing a record-breaking two-year Shs72m contract with his former club at Speke Hotel yesterday. “I will work hard to make sure this team wins the championship,” the national team player added.

Falcons lost to Power 1-3 in last year’s best-of-five final play-off series and Omony’s signing is viewed as a move to reclaim their lost glory. “We are used to being at the top and know what it takes to be there. We have been pacesetters in basketball, we have to maintain the trend,” said John Simbwa, the Falcons patron.
spot2_1.jpg
“This is an historic moment for us.” Although the six-time champions secured Omony’s signature, their rivals Power early this year also brought on board the Blick brothers Donald and Norman at a combined fee of Shs32m.

Falcons had to beat off the competition of Power and Warriors to Omony’s signature but will have to part with Shs3m in salary and Shs150,000 for the player’s housing allowance, monthly. At the moment, Falcons have no sponsor but the club is determined to meet Omony’s demands through every possible means. “Some people thought it was a joke, others thought it wasn’t possible but we know the value of Omony,” Ssimbwa enthused.

Omony joined Falcons as one of the pioneers in 1998, won two league Most Valuable Player’s awards in 1999 and 2000 before turning professional two years later.

The maiden edition of the Big Man Camp of Africa to be staged in Abuja will begin today, with nearly 100 participants, including players and coaches in attendance.

The annual basketball programme, which has remained in Lagos since its inception in the country is also making inroads into other Nigerian cities, in its efforts to expand and discover hidden talents from all nooks and crannies of the country.

The Big Man Camp of Africa, which is in its fifth edition this year is being organised by RadarHoops of Nigeria and supported by the Nigeria Premier Basketball Foundations, headed by Tijani Umar.

According to Masai Ujiri Assistant General Manager of Toronto Raptors, The Giant of Africa is essentially for young basketball players between the heights of 6ft 8inch or 7 feet and above and will involve 60 players before the start of the basketball event.

He added that the over 60 youngsters selected from across the country are billed to arrive Abuja on the 21st for screening by a committee of top coaches in the game.
The players would have career guidance sessions with a counselor, who would also be taken through a talk session on character building by experts.
50 local coaches are also expected to be retrained by the consortium of top coaches from the United States, headed by an African scout of Detroit Pistons, Myke Scholls.

The closing outstanding players are to be honoured with awards and selected to attend Basketball Without Borders programme, organised by the NBA and FIBA in South Africa.

by fiba.com

We start off with the FIBA Africa zonal qualifiers for "Libya 2009" (African Championships):

In Zone 6, Mozambique snatched the last ticket (Angola already qualified as the title-holder) available by beating out South Africa and Zimbabwe.
It's pretty disappointing for the South Africans as it looked like the country put a lot of energy to run a competitive league and to aim for professional structures within the federation.

Angola's national-team is going to announce a "new" head-coach soon. The decision will be made between previous coach Alberto de Carvalho and Luis Magalhaes (Primero Agosto).

The Zone 4 moved its qualifiers from Gabon to the Central African Republic. Only one country out of this zone is going to qualify (Cameroon is automatically qualified after coming in second in the last championships), and the Central Africans are currently practicing hard in France to clinch the ticket for Libya. They are facing tough opponents in Gabon, Chad, Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Mali is going to host the qualifiers for Zone 2 in Bamako, and will be having a hard time to beat Senegal and Guinea-Conakry for the remaining ticket (Cape Verde as the third placed team in the championships is also qualified).
Senegal called off the preparation phase in Lille, France and will be holding its camp in Dakar from the 4th until the 14th of May (16 players have been called up) to jet off for Mali where the qualifiers start on the 15th.

In Zone 1, Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia are battling for one ticket to Libya. In the past, all three teams usually made their way to the African Championships, so for two of the countries, a failure is unacceptable.

Nigeria and the Ivory Coast booked tickets earlier in Zone 3 while Egypt and Rwanda did the same in Zone 5. The Zone 7 is not going to play out a contender for the title, which left a ticket for a runner-up in of the other zones.

Qualified for Libya are: Angola, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Libya, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Rwanda and Mozambique. My predictions for the remaining spots are Senegal, Central African Republic and Tunisia.

Nigeria is searching for a new head coach for the "D'Tigers". Take a look which coaches are in the mix.

There will also be a try-out camp for players based in the US which will be led by San Antonio Spur Ime Udoka. The camp will be conducted in Washington D.C. starting the 26th of June and ending on the 30th.
Udoka mentioned the possibility of adding Ike Diogu (Portland) to the group while other prospects mentioned are Josh Akognon (Fullerton), Ben Uzoh (Tulsa) and Kingsley Oguchi (South Carolina).

The Ivory Coast appointed a new head coach.

African players in Europe:



Gabonese Stephane Lasme won the Adriatic League Championship with Partizan Belgrade and contributed with 11 points and six boards. Up next is the national championship in Serbia which should be also easily taken by Partizan.

Sitapha Savane (Gran Canaria) scored 13 points in a 76-66 loss while fellow Senegalese Boniface N'dong (Malaga) scored only four points in a heavy 88-67 rout against Manresa who had Congolese Serge Ibaka on the court, who netted in 10points and pulled six rebounds.
Eritrean Thomas Kelati (Malaga) recorded 13 points and three steals in the same game.

In Italy, Senegalese Pape Sow (Milano) poured in 11 points in an 83-68 winner over Treviso. Nigerian center Deji Akindele scored 14 points, pulled eight rebounds and blocked five shots but it wasn't enough as Pesaro fell 88-74 to GMAC Bologna. Fellow Nigerian Ndudi Ebi clicked in 10 points and grabbed nine boards to lead Ferrara to a 93-84 win over La Fortezza Bologna. Siena routinely won 91-75 against Caserta behind 11 points from Romain Sato (Central African Republic) and 10 points off Ben Eze (Nigeria).

In France, Nancy beats Vichy 79-64 thanks to 11 points of Victor Samnick (Cameroon).Akin Akingbala (Nigeria) scored another six points for Nancy as well.
Senegalese veteran Cheikhou Thioune netted 23 points in his Rouen's83-97 loss to Roanne who had 10 rebounds and four points off Uche Nsonwu-Amadi (Nigeria).

Stephane Pelle is top-scoring for Aalstar in Belgium and clinched another 18 points in a 90-77 loss to Gent. Nigerian Ben Ebong contributed with 17 points and six rebounds in a 113-83 rout against Pepinster.

Oldenburg's Rouben Boumtje Boumtje (Cameroon) drained in 10 points and grabbed nine boards in a 76-86 loss to the Artland Dragons.
Ansu Sesay (Sierra Leone) poured in 10 points and pulled 12 rebounds in Alba Berlin's 80-77 winner over Tübingen.

In Latin America:

Ebi Ere (Nigeria) scored 22 points for Carolina in the Puerto Rican BSN.They routed Arecibo 95-71 on the second game-day of the league.

In the US:

At the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (A NBA Pre-Draft Tournament), several African players left their mark: Alade Aminu, who is half-Nigerian, scored 16,0 ppg and pulled 9 rpg and should be having an outside chance to get drafted.
Nigerian national team-guard Josh Akognon led all players in assists (6,7) while scoring 9,3 ppg. He may end up in Europe or the D-League.

Alfred Aboya (Cameroon) and Bamba Fall (Senegal) played minor roles in the tournament and are most likely heading to Europe soon.
Nigerian-Jamaican Weyinmi Efejuku had a solid outing at the P.I.T. which may helps him to get to the D-League. If not an option, he may be headed overseas as well.

In Africa:

The Tunisian Champion will be crowned soon. Reigning champs Stade Nabeulin took home game one against ES Sahel by trouncing them 74-64.Game two now will be played in Nabeul and it looks like Stade is going to take another time the championship of Tunisia...

In Algeria, the quarter-finals of the Algerian Cup has been played, here are the results:
AB Skikda - GS Petroliers 68-82
ASPTT Alger - CRM Birkhadem 75-57
WB Ain-Benian - NA Hussein-Dey 71-57
WA Boufarik - CRB Dar-El-Beida 77-81

Four teams of the first division advanced and favorites Petroliers should at least make it to the finals here.

In the meanwhile, the Algerian junior national-team lost 43-59 to Serbia in the finals of the international cadet tournament in Martigues, France.
After beating Podgorica (Montenegro) 42-39, Palnaga (Lithuania) 35-31, Martigues (33-20) and Andorra 36-15 in the semis, the cadets lost to a better Serbian team but the future looks promising to Algeria. The team now sets it focus on the qualifiers in May in Libya for the African Championships for Cadets in Mozambique.

AS Sale won the "Coupe du Trone" (National Cup) in a hard-fought game (70-58) over Moghreb Fes. It's the third time ASS took home the cup which 2009 final was played in Rabat.

The quarter-finals in Senegal are on:
AS Douanes - Police 81-57
HLM - DUC 76-63
JA - UGB 68-60
Goree - Rail 54-48

In the Cup St.Michel (National Cup), Douanes prevailed over Bopp by trouncing them 62-50 to meet DUC in the final who edged ASFA 64-53 earlier.

Al Nasser in Libya won the national championship after beating Al Ahli 76-59 in the finals. Al Nasser has been the most consistent team in the league, loosing only two out of twenty games this season and deserved therefore to be crowned champions.

That's all for this time, check back for another episode of the Focus on Africa here on FIBA.com!

I'm out like Zone 7 countries…

After a lapse of one year, Al-Nasser once again won the National Basketball title, their second since the restructuring of the championship in season 2005/2006.

Their final victory over Al-Ahli of Benghazi by 76-59 in the Championship Play-offs was the icing on the cake, as they had already made sure of the title despite losing their only match in the play-offs to outgoing champions Al-Ittihad a day earlier despite losing their only match in the play-offs to outgoing champions Al-Ittihad.

The title was most deserved for Al-Nasser, as they have been the most consistent throughout the season having lost only two matches out of the 20 they have played - in the preliminaries and the Play-offs.

Incidentally, both losses were inflicted on them by Al-Ittihad, the first one; by 104-99 was the season opener. In the second, in the play-offs, they lost 87 73. In between, Al-Nasser took their revenge in the preliminaries by defeating Al-Ittihad 96-69.

Al-Ittihad lost three matches throughout the season. Beside the defeat against AL-Nasser, they also lost to the Al-Ahli clubs of Benghazi and Tripoli.

In the final Championship Play-off standings Al-Nasser finished with 13 points, followed by Al-Ittihad on 10, Al-Ahli Benghazi 9 and Al-Ahli Tripoli 7.

Al-Nasser started the play-offs with two bonus points and Al-Ittihad with one for finishing in the first two places in the preliminary stage.

In the Relegation Play-offs, Al-Shabab who started with two bonus points finished first on 13 points followed by Al-Madina with 11 (including one bonus point). Al-Hilal and Al-Morog bring up the rear, both on eight points.

By Charles Mutebi

THE YMCA basketball court in Wandegeya will be ready for the start of the 2009 national league season after the impasse that had stalled the completion of its reconstruction was resolved last week. Work on the facility resumed this week.

The YMCA administration had ordered local basketball governing federation FUBA, to halt renovations on the court. The owners were not happy with the quality and speed of work, vowing to see through the project themselves instead.

The dispute was, however, resolved after a series of meetings.

The work is expected to take seven days according to site manager Godwin Sseremba. �We will be done here by next week,� Sseremba said, as his team went about their work.

�What we are going to do is basically flatten the surface with marrum then tarmac it thereafter,� he explained.

The news will be of great relief to the basketball fraternity who were facing the spectre of going into the season unable to watch the game at its local home.

�The court will be ready for use before the start of the season,� FUBA treasurer Chris Kyebambe guaranteed yesterday, less than a week after writing off the likelihood of such a scenario and thereby encouraging league teams to plan hosting league matches.

John Corneh and Christopher Okpe are making names in the Philippines. The two Hoops players who left Ghana in February has been selected to represent their senior varsity Team A from among a total of 35 players who were short listed. Chris and John are very happy playing in the Philippines. Report from their coach states that their level of basketball is astonishing as they have the fundamental needed to play big time in the Philippines. A third member, Dominic Mensah commonly call L.A. is also making things happen. The multi talented player is presently being sort by football clubs in Asia as a result to his superior football skills. LA plays both soccer and basketball presently in the Philippines. He was the highest goal scorer in an Easter tournament netting six goals three coming in the final match. He was given the mvp at the end of the tournament.

by Sande Bashaija
Kampala

After several months of uncertainty, the Federation of Uganda Basketball Associations (Fuba) has finally secured a venue to host the National League.

Fuba, on Wednesday, struck a deal with Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) management to have the games staged at the institution’s basketball court in Wandegeya. “By next week, I am sure everything will be in place for us to start,” Fuba treasurer Chris Kyebambe said.

Fuba and YMCA management have been locked in a disagreement over the refurbishment of the court – Uganda’s most popular basketball facility. But following weeks of negotiations, basketball is now returning to its ‘home’. “We agreed to work on the surface first before embarking on refurbishing the seats,” Kyebambe revealed. Adding; “We are also looking at constructing dressing rooms to accommodate two teams.”

The MTN Uganda sponsored league would have started last month but Lugogo Indoor stadium – the alternative venue – is also closed for refurbishment. This prompted Fuba to postpone action to April 24 as they tried to secure other venues around Kampala. Kyebambe revealed that the Fuba technical committee is now working round the clock to avail teams with fixtures. “By the end of this week, we shall have a draft fixture for all registered teams,” he said.

CHANCES are high that you will get help if you start helping yourself in whatever way you can.

Like all local sports bodies, the Seychelles Basketball Federation (SBF) needs financial support, but help has started coming from inside.
Referees and table officials have decided to show their dedication and passion for the sport they serve by taking a pay cut.

Speaking to Sports Nation, SBF chairman Roy Collie said: “I was amazed when all referees and table officials agreed to take a pay cut.
“Although it is not a lot of money, it is something. It will go a long way to help us reduce our expenses as we took over the running of the SBF with a R50,000 deficit.
“The gesture proves that there is unity within the basketball family. This is good. And I take this opportunity to call on all our partners to stay focused on what we have to do and not to belittle all the work that is being done to get Seychelles’ basketball on the road to progress.”

The SBF has also decided to take R5 off ticket prices in its bid to see more fans at the matches.
“It’s good to see people in the stands cheering on their favourite teams. For many years, basketball has been a source of entertainment for our people, and we would like to see more fans at matches,” said Mr Collie.
Tickets now cost R10 for weekday matches and children under 12, R15 for weekend matches and R20 for finals.
Registered teams are also likely to benefit financially this year as the SBF is expected to distribute gate receipts this time.
According to Mr Collie, a ratio is being worked out as to how much each team will get depending on their ranking in the men’s and women’s leagues.

Men’s and women’s champions will get R15,000 – a R5,000 increase – for them to take part in the Indian Ocean Islands Club Championship (IOCC). This is irrespective of whether the championship is organised or not.

G. G.

BY JULIUS MBARAGA

After a productive four-year tenure in office, the basketball fraternity is ready to vote into office a new executive committee of the local basketball governing body, Ferwaba.

According to Ferwaba president Fidele Rutagarama, elections are scheduled for April 25 at Ferwaba’s premises in Remera.
“We shall have elections at the end of this month and we hope that whoever takes up a seat on the executive will carry on from where we stopped,” he said.
The posts to be contested for include president, vice president, secretary general, treasurer and two technical advisors. However, it is still unclear whether current executive members intend to seek another term of office.
During Rutagarama’s term, the sport has taken great strides.
The country made her first ever Afro-basket appearance in 2007 after a second spot finish in the 2007 Zone 5 championships that were won by Egypt.
Rwanda is also scheduled to compete in this year’s Afro-basket competitions in Libya after finishing second to Egypt in this year’s Zone 5 championships.

The ladies’ national side will also make their debut appearance in the African nations basketball championships for women in Madagascar later this year.
Further still, APR became the first ever local club to compete in the Fiba-Africa club championship back in 2007.

(by Isaac Kwapong) from africabasket.com
The Ghana Basketball Association GBBA today organised a Technical Committee to form various sub committees to implement the technical plans of the association. The committees formed were the Coaches Committee and the Referees Committee. Starting the coaches committee of the GBBA will be Mr. Lawal P-Brimah (a senior national team coach) and Mr. Daniel Sowah (national coaches chairman), representing the referees committee are Mr. S,K Antwi( Nationa Referees Association) and Mr. Adu Poku (Commissioner) The coaches committee was task to review the list of national teams coaches and norminate coaches for approval by the exucetive board of the GBBA. The coaches committee was also tasked to present a list of 30players for each of the national teams U16,U18,U20 and Senior Men's/Women's Teams.The list of norminees will be presented to the executive board on the 22nd of April 2009. (you will find below the list of national teams coaches which will be reviewed by the coaches committee ) .The referees committee was also task with the resonsibility of getting the database of all referees as well as try to come out with training clinics and programmes for new and upcoming young basketball referees across the regions of Ghana. The Secretary General, Chairman/President and the Technical Manager of the GBBA will be ex-oficio members in all sub-committees of the GBBA.


-Victor Manford
-Lawal P-Brimah - (Current Senior Men's Team)
-Francis A. Aryee (National Team Management Team)
-Samuel Jackson
-Beresford Anui - (National Team Management Team)
-Daniel Sowah-(Current U16 Boys Coach)
-Albert Donkor
-Emmanuel Wobil
-Mathias Ocloo
-Salifatu Nusah
-Abeiku Solomon
-William Kissi
-Edmund Kpeglo
-Thomas Ankrah
-Kenneth Ankrah
-Loyd Amui
-Seth Okai
-Mr. Benjamin Baafi ( Manager for all the National Teams}

by Numennie Williams africabasket.com
It was all shouting, jumping and screaming during the week at the famous Sports Commission in the Liberian capital Monrovia when the Sports Power basketball team engaged three top Liberian basketball clubs in basketball showdown.
The team show modern basketball class to the disbelief of the many basketball spectators. In the first match, Sports Power led by former New York Nick Star Anthony Booner whipped Liberia most physical team Uhuru Kings 91-80 points in a tough encounter. In the second pairing, Liberia Champions NPA Pythons fell to Sports Power 54-63 points in another tough match. During the matches the Sports Power team preached the word of God to the many spectators.

SEYCHELLES’ basketball has an ambitious youth development programme aimed at grooming the country’s future star players.
New Seychelles Basketball Federation (SBF) chairman Roy Collie believes in what his committee is doing and at the same time counts on the involvement of different partners to see the programme succeed.
“We will organise one-day jamborees, mini-basketball and inter-school competitions at primary and secondary levels to get more youngsters involved in basketball,” Collie told Sports Nation in an interview earlier this week.
“It’s the federation’s duty to develop the sport and bring it to a new high. I urge the Seychellois kids always to do that which will bring glory to the family name and to the nation. Basketball will keep you (children) away from illicit substances like drugs,” he added.

The SBF hopes to bring the programme to youth across the country and at the same time help to ensure young athletes at all levels have an early positive experience with basketball by getting the same opportunities to play the game.
“We want the children to have equal opportunities as they will become the country’s future star players. They have to be well taken care of. This is why we have to pay their bus, boat and air fares when they are going to play matches.
“With this in mind, we need financial support to make the project work and become a success,” noted Mr Collie.

The first inter-school knockout competition for secondary schools will take place on Saturday, starting at 9am at the Palais des Sports.
The following Saturday – April 25 – primary students from Praslin will compete in a one-day mini-basketball jamboree, starting at 9am at the Grand Anse Praslin court.

On the same day, main sponsor Cable & Wireless will officially launch the mini-basketball programme on the island.

On Saturday May 2, it will be the turn of primary students from La Digue to compete in a one-day jamboree.
Other inter-school knockout competitions also feature on the calendar, among them the Robert Smith Memorial Cup. This is a league competition for school teams from Mahe, Praslin and La Digue.
Teams from La Digue and Praslin will play on a home and away basis with the winners progressing to the November 28 finals at Victoria Gymnasium against the winners from Mahe.
The Memorial Cup is played in memory of the late American basketball technical adviser Robert Smith, who played an important role in the country’s youth development programme and introduced ‘baby basketball’ here.
Not only the players will be taken care of this year, young coaches and officials are also expected to follow courses to upgrade their level of performance.

According to Mr Collie, experienced coaches will be on hand during the competitions to choose players to form part of the female and male cadet teams, who will compete in the league championships.
Players who used to form part of the old cadet teams have been promoted to the junior teams.

The three coaches chosen to work with the cadet teams are Patricia Samynadin, Grégoire Scholastique and Jerry Andrew. They will be helped by Nigerians Alao Solomon and Simon Pusam.
“We are investing time and resources to make the programme a success. We now need the backing of sponsors to make things move in the right direction,” said Mr Collie.

He added that there is a need to have managers for all the teams to make sure everything goes on smoothly.
“People tend to believe that if they are asked to be a team manager, they have to shoulder the sponsorship burden. This is not true. A manager needs to make sure the players get all they need on time. This is a manager’s job,” he said.

“The federation will look for sponsorship. Again, we call on potential sponsors to come forward because our aim is to bring the sport to an unprecedented level.”

G. G.

Its just one month to go for the Lions to name a squad , group the players and get them into shape for Mali (15th until 21st of May) where they will be facing the hosts among other nations of Zone 2 (Most possibly Guinea-Conakry) to play out the qualifiers for Libya 2009 (FIBA Africa Championship).
So far, not much has been materialized by the federation which is most certainly is going to miss important players such as Boniface N'dong, Maleye N'Doye and Pape Sow who should not be present when Senegal faces their opponents in Bamako, because them and several other touted national-team players who are all earning their money abroad would be playing in the play-offs for their club teams during the time of the qualifiers in Mali.

Former role players like Malick Badiane (D-League,USA), Bamba Fall (College, USA), Mouhammed Faye (College, USA), Saer Sene (New York Knicks, USA), Cheikh Samb (D-League, USA) and Mamadou Boumy Seck (College,USA) should provide youth, height and some international experience and should be eager to prove that they are capable to do bigger things for Senegal.

National-team head coach Abdourahmane N'Diaye and his staff are in favor of a preparation that combines a stage in France (Possibly starting the 22nd of April) and later a stage in Dakar before departing to Bamako. But nothing has been decided yet and talks with the heads of Senegalese basketball and sports has been postponed but will be held soon to discuss these important matters to create professional conditions for the national team to prepare properly.

So, it has to be seen how fast decisions will be carried out and how early N'Diaye can tell his players where to group to avoid last-minute plan-changes like it happened in the past years so often. He himself faces problems too due to his commitment as a head-coach of the women's team of Villeurbanne (France) as the team could be ending their season exactly two days after the start of the zonal qualifiers...

Only one free spot for the Zone 2 is left as Cape Verde being already qualified for Libya and with Mali playing in front of a home-crowd who can relay on many foreign-based players, the task of booking the tickets to the African Championships does look quite moody for the Lions, and only a good outing in Mali and later in Libya can satisfy basketball-fans of Senegal this year as everything else would be a true disaster for the East African basketball-nation.

from fiba.com

Faith Wear Jammers tore the form book to beat HBA A league runner-up Sigauke 51-49 in the HBA Easter Tournament. Jammers coming in with their two foreign based players Michael Makanda who is based South Africa and Michael Koffe based in Botswana showed intent early in the tournament. They were top of their group after a 3-way tie between them, Stanbic Mavericks and Stormers. Their 58-64 loss to newly promoted Stanbic Mavericks in the preliminary rounds was a good wake-up call for Jammers. From then on Jammers never looked back going through the opposition like a warm knife through butter.

In the final against highly fancied Sigauke, Jammers Michael Koffe and Michael Makanda shared top-scoring honours with 16 points apiece. Koffe was hot in the first 2 quarters but down the stretch in crunch time Makanda took over and Sigauke could not stop him. In the absence of Baldwin Bodza Mazango and Tawanda Yanga Chitsinde, Sigauke were a pale shadow of themselves and never really looked in it.

Stanbic Mavericks reversed the preliminary stage defeat to JBC when they beat JBC 49-36 in the final with Dorcas Marondera and Regina Chisale unstoppable. Marondera top-scored with 15 points and Chisale added 11 points. Chisale came up really big down the stretch as she made free throw after free throw as JBC tried to come back. JBC had beaten Stanbic 35-32 in the preliminary rounds but even then Stanbic showed intent.

by Roderick Takawira
JBC men and Varsity Leopards women have won the HBA League Championships in the men and womens league respectively.

JBC needing a win from their 2 remaining games against Varsity Leopards and Raiderz beat Varsity Leopards 76-72 in an exciting match that was a blood and thunder clash. JBC has 49 points from 25 games and their nearest challengers Varsity Leopards and Sigauke have 48 points from 26 games. Raiderz also did JBC a favour beating Sigauke 56-49 to eliminate them from the championship race. JBC cannot be caught and snatch the league championship from Varsity Leopards

africabasket.com

In the 9th week of the Egyptian super league the games are becoming more and more exciting after a bloody game with a lot of violence between fans Itthad had win Ahly 76/73 to be on the top of the league with 16 point with the Ahly also Zamalek loses from Gazeera 82/77 in another strong but peaceful game
Next week will be the last in the Home and away matches and it will be hot also Zamalek will face Ahly and Gesh will face Ittihad where Smouha will play aginst Gazeera

from africabasket.com

by Sande Bashaija
Kampala

After 14 years of exhibiting mediocre performances, Miracle Eagles are determined to make an impact in this season’s MTN-Fuba League.

The Rubaga-based side has completed the signing of Boniface Okello and Paul Mwaka from former champions Nkumba Marines with a target of making a maiden appearance in the play-offs.
“We are looking at nothing less than the play-offs this season,” Miracle Eagles official Chris Kyebambe said yesterday. Mwaka and Okello, the 2005 league Most Valuable Player (MVP), won two championships with Nkumba Marines and are expected to steer a revolution at Miracle.
“We have always had good players but the play-offs have eluded us. With these experienced players, we hope to give the big sides a run for their money,” Kyebambe said.

Formed in 1995, Miracle’s best performance came ten years later when they finished fifth in the league. Despite upsetting big teams and at times playing some eye-catching basketball, the team often makes impressive starts to the season but seldom brushes shoulders with relegation.

But Kyebambe is hoping to assemble a very competitive side this season. “If you are to finish in the top four, you must have a big squad.

That’s exactly what we have done. The team has a mix of young talent and experience,” he noted. Former national league top scorer Godwin Khisa has also put pen to paper for Miracle.

KENYA Basketball Federation (KBF) have named four clubs that will represent the country in the Zone V club championship to be held in Uganda in July.

Vitalis Gode, the KBF secretary said in a brief that the event that will determine who qualifies for the FIBA Africa Champions Cup will be held from July 29 to August 2 at the Lugogo Indoor Stadium, Uganda.

The teams, said Gode are the national champions Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) Lions and their fiercest rival and the team they beat 2-1 in the series play offs finals for their second national title in a row- Co-operative Bank of Kenya.
Former national giants, Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) men who finished third after beating United States International University (USIU) have been put on standby.

The women's representatives are national champions and regular participants in the show, KPA. They will be joined by league runners up, and self sponsored Eagle Wings who will feature in their first regional club tournament.
Gode also said that the federation will meet the team managers on 18th April "to address issues of concern focusing on the management of the league." The league, meant to throw off on April 4, hit a snag with managers saying it will only get off after a meeting with the federation.

According to Gode, it will now begin on April 25, a week after that meeting that is expected to be well attended as it will be important. Topping the agenda will be the fixtures and the constitution.

The Federation shall organize a residential national clinic on 30th April to 3rd May for coaches and referees at Upper Hill School. KBF will catter for residetial cost while participants will, expected to arrive on May 3, will pay shs 1,000.

The number of participants will be seven persons per branch -between three and four referees- while additional participants will bear their own cost of boarding.

In another development, Laiser Hill and Shimba Hills claimed the national secondary schools championships following the final matches played at Embu, in Eastern Province over the weekend.

Laiser Hill thumped Friends school Kamusing (Western) 94-55 behind 33 points from Sudi Ulanga and 17 from Nol Mayieng. The losers had game high 35 points from Okari Ongwae but it could not save their blushes.

Shimba Hills won the girls title whipping Tigoi (Western) by a whopping 114-54 difference in this one sided encounter. Purity Adhiambo bagged 48 points while Susan Akinyi added 32. The duo combined for more points scored by the entire Tigoi 12 !

Spain Junior National Team completed their Pool A action at the Vilagarcia Basket Cup with the victory. They defeated Angolan counterparts after trailing for the majority of the encounter but still could not make it into the Final. Though Russia lost to Germany it was not enough for the hosts to enter the championship game. Spain will now play against Italy for the Bronze medals. Angola lost all of their three games in the pool and is scheduled to take on New Zealand for the 7th-8th spot.
Angola surprised Spain right from the start as they matched the hosts in all components and eked out an 18:17 lead after the starting frame. The teams traded baskets throughout the second period before Eduardo Ferreira and Miguel Kiala (198-C-90) sealed the first half outcome at 35:32 for Angola. Spain struggled to perform in the third quarter as well as they managed just 15 points heading into the final term down by one point. But finally the home team adjusted as Miguel Lorenzo (206-C/F-91) paced them ahead. Spain accounted for 29 points in the fourth period and claimed a confident win at the end. Miguel Lorenzo finished with 16 points to lead the Spaniards. Miguel Servera (199-G-92) added 12 points, while Ignacio Guigou (186-G-91) had 10 in the win. Emanuel Antonio (180-G-90) and Miguel Kiala finished with 12 points apiece for Angola. Josemar Carvalho (193-F-90) had 9 points in defeat.

Spain U18: Miguel Lorenzo 16, Miguel Servera 12, Ignacio Guigou 10
Angola U18: Emanuel Antonio 12, Miguel Kiala 12

4 Edson Ndoniema (191-G-91)
5 Yanick Moreira (204-C-91)
6 Braulio Morais (190-G-90)
7 Eduardo Ferreira (194-F-90)
8 Josemar Carvalho (193-F-90)
9 Hermenegildo Santos (192-G-90) of Desportivo 1. De Agosto Luanda
10 Emanuel Antonio (180-G-90) of Club Desportivo Un. Agostinho Neto
11 Agostinho Coelho (198-F-90)
12 Edilson Ramos (186-G-92)
13 Islando Manuel (192-F-91)
14 Yuri Demba (180-G-90)
15 Miguel Kiala (198-C-90)
17 Jose Maria Del Rio (205-C-91)

By Oscar Pilipili

Laiser Hill of Rift Valley and Shimba Hills from Coast are winners of boys’ and girls’ basketball at the 2009 Brookside Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Term One Championships.

Laiser beat Western’s Friends School Kamusinga 94-55 in a nerve-cracking final to retain the trophy at Kangaru Boys, Embu.
Shimba Hills routed Tigoi of Western 114-20 in a girls’ final to lift their first-ever national basketball title.
The match between Laiser and Kamusinga measured up to a final of titans with tactical displays from both teams on Saturday.
It was 33-point effort from captain, Sudi Ulanga that dashed Kamusinga’s dream of winning their first national trophy in basketball.
Ulanga was outstanding throughout and proved his ability to hit three pointers by converting four of them in the match that was watched by a large crowd.

Brothers excel

The towering Laiser forward Nol Mayieng hit 17 points for the team with Kamusinga’s inspirational captain Okari Ongwae recording game-high 35 points.
Ongwae, who played alongside his brother James Omweno, is the main man in the team and his skillful play has won him many admirers including scouts from other schools.
One of his fans was his mother Florence, who camped at the venue to cheer her sons throughout the Championships.

we gave up

Ongwae said: "I don’t know what happened. My teammates gave up in the second half when they started to trail Laiser."
"Many times we played in front, but when we started trailing Laiser the morale went down," he said.

Laiser coach Anthony Kirimi said: "We left nothing to chance because we knew Kamusinga were nota joke. They are a very good side with determination to excel."
Shimba Hills routed Tigoi of Western 114-54 in a girls’ final to ensure the trophy remains in Coast Province.
Mombasa High who won it last year were not in Embu since their school changed its name to Khumbar.
Captain Purity Adhiambo led from the front scoring 48 points with Susan Akinyi and Fatma Mohammed contributing 32 and 18 apiece for the Coastal team.
Hileevi Ayodi managed 22 points for Tigoi with teammate Stephanie Tonga adding 10. The match was closely fought in the first quarter with Tigoi taking a one-point lead at 20-19.

Guinean young players have confirmed their intention to move to the final stage by beating malian players this afternoon in Conakry in the round-robin game of the Zone 2 Cup for U16.

After their first victory recorded yesterday (52-42) over Mali, the Guinean selection get its qualifying ticket through this second win for the final round of the 1st African Championship for U16 to be held in Mozambique from 16th to 25th July 2009.

FIBA Africa

The female selection of Mali took a win over Guinea (53-43) today in the second game opposing them in the U16 Women Cup fo Zone 2 played in Conakry. Yesterday, in the first game, Guinean women were the winners with just 1 point margin (56-55).

With this victory of Malian girls with 10 points margin, which seems to be a severe revenge, they qualify to the final round of the 1st African Championship for U16 Women to be held in Senegal from 28 August to 6th September. The competition took place on the 09th and 10th April 2009 with finally 2 participants over the 4 initially registered.

FIBA Africa

By PHILIP ONYANGO in EMBU

Defending champions Laiser Hill Academy face newcomers Friends School Kamusinga in the basketball final of the national secondary schools ball games at Kangaru School, on Saturday.

Laiser Hill rallied from behind to beat Maseno School 58-51, while Kamusinga were made to sweat before beating St Austin’s Academy 79-74 in the semis, on Friday.

In the girls’ category, newcomers Shimba Hills face Tigoi Girls in the final. Shimba beat Langata High of Nairobi 66-21, while Tigoi floored Manor House of Rift Valley 83-60 in the semis.

Against St Austin’s, Kamusinga’s Ben Ongwae Okari was the man of the match, scoring a game high 38 points.

Kamusinga led 14-13 in the first quarter and went ahead to widen the gap to 40-33 at the break. The resurgernt St Autin’s oustscored Kamusinga 21-10 in the third quarter to take a temporary 54-50 lead and continued their anslaught winning the fourth quarter 20-19, but this was too little to too late to cut the eight point margin.
The Laiser Hill/Maseno clash was another cracker as Laiser led 9-8 and 38-26 at the break, while Maseno controlled the last two quarters, winning the third 14-13 and fourth 11-07.
The Shimba Hills/Langata semi-final clash was lop-sided with the former leading 11-0 in the first quarter and 31-04 at the break.
A late rally by Mercy Wanyama and Virginia Awino, who combined for the 21 points, saw Langata under the tutelage of Peter Orero and Radhi Ndalu close the gap to 66-21.
Purity Odhiambo scored 40 points for Shimba Hills while Fatma Mohamed had eight.Tigoi led Manor House 23-16 in the first quarter and never looked back to lead 43-37 at the break and 67-45 in the third quarter.
Hilevi Ayodi scored 22 points and Nancy Atieno 18 for Tigoi while Manor House replied through Winnie Wafula who had 18 points while Mercy Cherotich made six points.

In the finals programmed for Saturday, Shimba Hills take on Tigoi Girls in the first semi finals from 10.00 am while Freinds School Kamusinga and Laiser Hill clash in the second semi final from 11.30

Al-Nasser seem to be working on all cylinders in the run in to the basketball championship. They are proving to be the most consistent in the Champion-ship Pool and after three matches have already managed to open a three-point lead over their nearest challengers and defending champions Al-Ittihad.

They are the only ones to have won all their three matches and even inflicted the first defeat on Al-Ittihad who then also suffered a second loss against their biggest rivals Al-Ahli of Tripoli.

The game between Al-Nasser and Al-Ittihad keenly anticipated. Al-Nasser proved their mettle winng by 16 poi-nts, 86-70. The led at the end of all four sessions (18-15), (40-21), (68-48) and eventually 87-70.

Al-Nasser previously beat Al-Ahli 76-55, then crowned another fine performance at Al-Ahli of Benghazi to win 84-54 (20-9, 45-26 and 64-40).

After three matches Al-Nasser have 8 points, Al-Ittihad on 5, and Al-Ahli (Tripoli) and Al-Ahli (Benghazi) 4.

In the Relegation Pool the most likely survivors after three matches look to be Alshabab. They lead the standings by a point from Al-Madina (7-6).

Alshabab’s lead is only the result of the two bonus points at the end of the first stage. Otherwise their record is similar to Al-Madina’s with two wins and a defeat. Al-Hilal and Al-Morog bring up the rear with four points.

RESULTS SO FAR
Championship Play-offs
Al-Ahli (Ben) v Al-Ittihad 58-82
Al-Nasser v Al-Ahli (Trip) 76-55
Al-Nasser v Al-Ittihad 86-70
Al-Ahli (Ben) v Al-Ahli (Trip) 72-65
Al-Ahli Tripoli v Al-Ittihad 67-62
Al-Ahli (Ben) v Al-Nasser 54-84

Relegation Play-offs
Al-Morog v Al-Hilal 31-64
Alshabab v Al-Madina 62-64
Al-Hilal v Al-Madina 48-57
Al Morog v Alshabab 42-60
Al-Hilal v Alshabab 62-80
Al-Morog v Al-Madina 54-52

source : http://www.tripolipost.com

After topping the league standings at the end of the first stage in the basketball league, finishing with 27 points, two ahead of defending champions Al-Ittihad after 14 matches, these same two teams have both started the Championship play-offs with victories. Al-Nasser defeated Al-Ahli Tripoli 76-55 and Al-Ittihad won 82-58 at Al-Ahli Benghazi.

These four teams –from first to fourth in the first stage qualified for the championship play-off, while the bottom four have started taking part in the relegation play-offs.

Al-Nasser and Al-Ittihad also started the second stage with enjoying bonus points, the former with two and the latter with one.

The Relegation play-offs are between the bottom four, namely Alshabab (19 pts), Al-Madina (18), Al-Hilal (17) and Al-Morog (15) will play in the relegation pool. Alshabab are awarded a two-point bonus and Al-Madina one.

In their first outings in this second stage, Al-Madina defeated Al-Shabab 64-62, while Al-Hilal won 64-31 against Al-Morog.

RESULTS

Championship Play-offs
Al-Nasser v Al-Ahli Tripoli 76-55
Al-Ahli Benghazi v AL-Ittihad 58-82

Relegation Play-offs
Al-Morog v Al-Hilal 31-64
Al-Shabab v Al-Madina 62-64

Germany U18 - Angola U18 65:56

German Junior National Team rebounded after the starting loss at the Vilagarcia Basket Cup and celebrated the first success at the tournament. Yesterday the German youngsters overcame Angolan counterparts to gain the initial win in Group A. Danilo Barthel (204-F-91) delivered 14 points to pace the European side. Emanuel Antonio answered with 14 points for Angola as they slipped at 0-2 record.
Angola followed the scenario of their first encounter. They opened the game in a cruising manner winning the first quarter 16:8. But the charge soon ran dry and Germany took over in this one. They accounted for 28 points in the second frame and gained a 3-point halftime lead. The fierce battle in the third quarter saw no change as Germany headed into the final term up by just one point. Germany looked too good defensively in the final period limiting their counterparts to just 8 points and claiming a confident victory at the end. Falko Theilig (180-G-92), Philipp Neumann (206-C-92) and Konstantin Klein (185-G-91) contributed 11 points apiece in the win. Islando Manuel had 12 points for Angola. Eduardo Ferreira (194-F-90) finished with 9 points in the loss.
Angola will now take on Spain, while Russia will face Germany in the third round.

Germany U18: Danilo Barthel 14, Falko Theilig 11, Philipp Neumann 11, Konstantin Klein 11
Angola U18: Emanuel Antonio 14, Islando Manuel 12

from africabasket.com

By Oscar Pilipili

Champions Laiser Hill of Rift Valley meet Friends School Kamusinga of Western in the final of boys’ basketball at the Brookside Kenya Secondary Schools Term One Games.

The finalists advanced after shrugging off stiff opposition from semi-final opponents at Kangaru School, Embu, on Friday.

Laiser edged out traditional rivals, Maseno of Nyanza, 58-51 in a tightly-contested match to remain on course to retaining the trophy they clinched at Mang’u High last year.
Aristide Mugage of Laiser scored game-high 21 points, while Samuel Odera, who managed 10 points, was the highest scorer in the Maseno line-up.
The match that was a repeat of last year’s final saw Laiser take a half a basketball lead, 9-8, at the end of the first quarter.
Playing before an ecstatic crowd, Laiser maintained the tempo to stretch the lead to eight points after the second quarter.
Laiser appeared to have sealed the match when they opened an 11-point gap at the end of the third quarter, but Maseno, in a late onslaught, managed to cut the lead to seven points.

Maseno coach, Paul Otula, who is also chairman of Kenya Basketball Federation, conceded defeat, saying they had lost to a better team."It is difficult to say we’ve lost, but we did so to a better team," said Otula.

Laiser coach Anthony Kirimi described the match as tough."Definitely you’ll agree with me that the match was very tough and could have gone either way," he said.
"It is easier to win but defending that trophy is not that easy," he said. Laiser beat Maseno by a half a basket in last year’s final.

Kamusinga edged out Nairobi champion, St Austin’s Academy, 79-74 in a tense semi-final to qualify for the final that will be played today.

After the champion's defeat taking out MANGA B against SOMO B on the score of 45 - 59; this weekend the Elite National Championship (CNE) is going to be played this weekend for the account of the 6th day:
To-night from 21 hours, To the Gymnasium of Libreville,: SOMO B against STADE MANDJI Port Gentil : CAS 1987 against MANGA B; Tomorrow Port Gentil: OLYMPIC MANDJI against MANGA B; Lambarn: IZO BB receives TOUNGUI BB; Oyem: ENGONG BB receives ATOMICK;

africabasket.com

by Sande Bashaija
Kampala

Victoria Lakers have pulled out of the MTN-Fuba League due to financial difficulties. “It’s unfortunate that our fans won’t get to watch us this season,” Lakers coach Sam Bahwayo told Daily Monitor yesterday.

Formed in 2007, Victoria Lakers finished second bottom in the 11-team women’s league but improved to seventh last season. “We had put in place a good recruitment strategy and the team was on good track.

But lack of sponsorship has put paid to all our plans,” added Bahwayo. In their first season, Lakers got sponsorship from Plan International and Family Planning Association of Uganda (FPAU) and were one of few local teams paying players training and match allowances.
“When our sponsors stopped giving us the money, motivating the players became a very big problem. At some stage towards the end of last season, players were no longer attending training sessions,” revealed the coach.

Besides the financial problems, Lakers have also lost most of their influential players to other leading sides.
“As of now, we are looking for sponsors and will return when our financial stand gets better. But Lakers will continue playing in local tournaments for continuity of the team,” noted Bahwayo.

Men’s Second Division outfit Bugema University has also pulled out, according to Bahwayo.

Meanwhile the Federation of Uganda Basketball Associations (Fuba) has said the league will begin on April 25 although a venue is yet to be found.

Russian U18 National Team made it look easy as they romped past Angolan counterparts in Spain. The teams tipped off the action in Pool A of the Vilagarcia Basket Cup in Spain. Pavel Shavkunov (185-G-91) and Denis Pastukhov (196-G-91) scored 13 points apiece to lead balanced Russian squad as they grabbed a comprehensive victory. Angola however did not look underdogs at the start of the game as they got to an aggressive start. The teams traded baskets but the African ballers secured a 17:16 lead after the first quarter. Russia shifted the gear in the second term and ran away for good. They scorched 26 points in the frame allowing their opponents to only 8. It was worth a 17-point lead at the interval. Russia continued to mount the pressure after the major break and beat Angolan team 23:18 in the third stanza. The teams exchanged baskets in the final quarter with the outcome known. Ivan Lazarev (205-C-91) dropped 12 points for Russia. Evgeny Voytyuk (195-F-91) canned 11 points in the victory. Emanuel Antonio responded with 11 points for Angola. Josemar Carvalho also added 11 points in the loss.
Angola will next face Germany. Russia is scheduled to take on hosting Spain tomorrow.

Russia U18: Pavel Shavkunov 13, Denis Pastukhov 13, Ivan Lazarev 12
Angola U18: Emanuel Antonio 11, Josemar Carvalho 11

from africabasket.com

By Oscar Pilipili

Top favourite teams have qualified for the boys’ basketball semi-finals at the Kenya Secondary Schools Championships at Kangaru, Embu.

Five-time champions St Austin’s Academy of Nairobi, play Friends School Kamusinga of Western as Rift Valley’s Laiser Hill who won last year take on Maseno from Nyanza in a basketball match that is a repeat of last year’s final.

Kamusinga finished first in Pool A on five points from two wins and a draw, while Maseno finished second on four points from two wins and a loss.
Laiser topped Pool A with maximum six points that were two less than second place finishers St Austin’s. The qualification of the top guns is a complete recipe for quality matches that can gain international rating at any level.

First honours

And now everyone is looking forward to the first honours and that is to reach the finals and qualify for the East Africa Secondary Schools Championships to be held in Uganda

in August.

St Austin’s captain Michael Owino said: "Our immediate target is to reach the final and earn a ticket to represent Kenya at the East African Games."
The debutant captain Owino said that they will go for early lead to disorganise their opponents in the match that is expected to produce fireworks.

His Kamusinga counterpart Tylor Okari said they were psyched up for the match. "The preliminaries were very competitive because we were in a tough group. The competitive nature of the matches has prepared us well for the semi-finals," he said.
"For example, we lost 75-64 against Maseno in our group match and this is very encouraging," he said.

Time to excel

The teams met for the last time at the Nationals play-offs at Mang’u and the Nairobi boys emerged winners. Kamusinga have made unsuccessful eighth appearances at the Championships and Okari believes that this is their time to excel.
"All the players that guided the team to position four last year are still intact and ready to win the Championships," he said.

Shimba Hills of Coast play Lang’ata from Nairobi in a semi-final match to involve newcomers to the schools scene. In the girls’ hockey, East African Champions Kerugoya play Misikhu as Lwak tackle Hillcrest in matches set for today.
National champions Kamusinga meet Shimo La Tewa as regional kings St Anthony’s entertain Kisumu Day in the second match.

Just like the basketball matches, hockey players will leave nothing to chance as they chase the coveted ticket to the East African Championships and national

Uganda Basketball Federation (FUBA) will encourage teams to host league matches in the new season.

The move is geared at avoiding the present scenario whereby Lugogo Indoor stadium and YMCA Wandegeya courts are unavailable.
When available, FUBA has used the two venues for most of its league matches and all the playoffs. But a series of initially promising circumstances has left the body unable to utilise the courts.
The Lugogo court is due for a MTN-sponsored facelift while at Wandegeya, the situation is a lot more complicated.
The home of local basketball was meant to be reconstructed after the end of the 2008 season and some excavations had been duly made.
However, the YMCA administration became displeased with the pace and quality of the work and stopped FUBA from seeing the project through, promising instead to rebuild the court themselves.

But FUBA is not happy with the move.
"We have injected in over sh5m and we can't lose that money that is why we are still pressing YMCA to allow us complete the work," FUBA president Ambrose Tashobya explained.
"We have pledged full supervision to see that the work done is recommendable."
But with the standoff persisting, FUBA appears resigned to have clubs host league matches.

by Charles Mutebi

ROUGH play can be damaging to an athlete’s career and can also be life-threatening. Just ask basketballer Heribert Derjacques.

What seemed to be a simple foul when he was elbowed in the left cheek, during the Angel Derjacques (right) is recuperating from a serious operationFish-sponsored men’s Curtain-raiser final between PLS Hawks and Premium Cobras, has turned out to be quite serious.

The blow affected PLS Hawks’ small forward Derjacques’ zygomatic arch – the part of the temporal bone of the skull that forms the prominence of the cheek.

Also known as the cheekbone, the zygomatic arch is formed by the zygomatic process of the temporal bone (a bone extending forward from the side of the skull, over the opening of the ear) and the temporal process of the zygomatic bone (the side of the cheekbone), the two being united by an oblique suture; the tendon of the temporalis passes medial to the arch to gain insertion into the coronoid process of the mandible.

Derjacques was operated on last Friday by local maxillo surgeon Wix Cupidon, who used the Gilles technique. Released from hospital on Sunday, the player is doing fine.

It is not clear when the clutch 3-point shooter, who won a silver medal with the national team at the fourth Indian Ocean Islands Games on home soil in 1993, will resume training.

by G.G. the nation

By Oscar Pilipili

Nairobi champions St Austin’s Academy started off strongly after beating Nyeri High 78-58 in a boys’ basketball preliminary match at Kenya Secondary Schools Championships.

St Austin’s dangerman Kevin Ominde managed 31 points with other useful contribution from Michael Owino and Nelson Omondi who hit 10 points apiece in the event at Kangaru High, Embu. Ben Ithenya and Alvin Nyangweso scored 14 and 17 points for Nyeri.
St Austin’s took a six-point lead at 20-14 after the first quarter and remained ahead with 14-8, 17-15 and 27-21 in a closely contested match.
Laiser Hill from Rift Valley had an encouraging start after they overcame Meru School 121-22 in another boys’ match.

Maseno upset

Vincent Maina top-scored for Laiser Hill with 21 points with teammate Nelson Omondi hitting 19. Meru replied through Bristol Mutale who managed 11 points as Mathew Muriungi scored six. East Africa and National champions Maseno School were upset 75-64 in a tough pool.
Purity Adhiambo’s 44-point effort handed Shimba Hills a resounding 123-9 win over Manor House in a girls’ basketball match.
Susan Akinyi was equally impressive recording 36 points to her name during the encounter that reduced the Rift Valley champions to mere beginners.
"We’re not going to underrate any team, our goal is to go all out for big victories and win the championships without losing a match," Adhiambo said.

Manor House were overwhelmed by the new Coast champions who were in command throughout leading 26-2, 33-0, 37-0, 33-0. Mildred Juma’s six points was the highest score for Manor House in the match played yesterday.
This is the first time that Shimba Hills, who are coached by Philip Onyango, are playing in the games as champions of Coast Province.
They have been riding in the shadows of Mombasa High that was renamed Khumbar late last year.

First national trophy

An interesting aspect of Shimba Hills is that almost the entire squad won the championships while at Mombasa last year.
"Our desire is to see that Shimba Hills win their first national trophy and the time for that is now," declared Adhiambo.

North Eastern girls found the going tough after they were overwhelmed by hosts St Angelas 117-0 in a one-sided match.
The games that are sponsored by Brookside Dairy kicked off with pomp and colour with exuberant competitors, clad in the title sponsors’ colours expressing desire to excel.

The competing teams are not only eyeing national crowns but tickets to represent the country at the 2009 East African Championships to be held in Jinja, Uganda in August.

Kenya has dominated the regional games with high standards of the local championships cited as one of the reasons behind the success.

from the standard

By Majuto Omary

Six teams have qualified for the Super Cup basketball tournament set to take place later this month, Basketball Dar Es Salaam (BD) official said yesterday.

Communication Director of the BD, Michael Maluwe, said the teams qualified after performing well in the Kili RBA league that ended last month.
Maluwe named the teams as Vijana "City Bulls", Savio, ABC, Tanzania Prisons and the reigning champions JKT.
He advised the teams to start intensive training ahead of the tournament whose kick-off date has yet to be announced.
"All have qualified because of their great performances. It is high time now they start intensive preparations for the Super Cup,� Maluwe said.

He also said the basketball body was busy looking for sponsors who would support to stage the tourney.
"We want this year's event to be more thrilling, so we are trying to attract many sponsors to support us," he said.

The event is deemed competitive due to the qualification of high profile teams with fantastic players.
"Yes, I expect it to be tougher to predict the winner, this is down to the strength of the teams. It is really going to be difficult for ill prepared teams," Maluwe commented.

by Sande Bashaija
Kampala

The reconstruction of Lugogo Indoor stadium and YMCA Wandegeya courts has left the Federation of Uganda Basketball Associations (Fuba) in a dilemma.

The local governing body is sweating to get an alternative venue to host this year’s MTN-Fuba League games. “We are in talks with Makerere and Kampala International University (KIU) to see if we can have our league games there,” Fuba assistant general secretary Joseph Manano said yesterday.

The league, set to attract over 40 teams, would have started early last month but Fuba has now pushed it to April 25. “The president (Ambrose Tashobya) is in a meeting with YMCA management right now and we hope they can make the court available for us very soon,” Manano added.

YMCA management and Fuba reached an understanding late last year to have the basketball court upgraded but work at the site has since stalled. Yet, MTN also took over the reconstruction of Lugogo last year and the stadium can only be available for use next year.

Added to that, only 13 teams have returned registration forms confirming their participation in the league.

They include Miracle Eagles, Warriors, MBC Rocks, KIU (men and women), Crane High (men and women), Berkley, A-1 Challenge, St. Michael, Nkumba Marines, Charging Rhino and Amazon.

There are two newcomers; Diamond in the Sun and Kampala University. Former champions Sky Jammers are also making a comeback after a one-year sabbatical due to financial probes. They secured sponsorship from Hared Petroleum Limited.

Greater Accra Basketball League (GABL) 2009/2010 basketball league season will tip-off on the 17th of April 2009, at the Lebanon House Basketball Court which is amongst one of the venues for the League. The teams who will start off the season are yet to be released publicly. Ongoing now are teams and player registration and also preparation of referees and officials for the league. The registration process is been delayed by late registration of teams for the league. This year's season will surely see the likes of CEPS, CAPE COAST HOOPS, REFORMERS, TEMA YOUTH, PREMIER PANTHERS, WARRIORS, and UTIF. There might also be some new teams who will be playing their first season in the GABL this season. Also going on are clinics and refresher programmes for coaches and referees. In link to the programmes there will be a coaches/referees refresher clinic which will be organized on the 11th of April 2009, at the Labanon House Basketball Court for all coaches and referees of the Greater Accra Basketball League. This is to refresh the knowledge of both coaches and referees of the new changes and amendments in the official rules of the game. The Greater Accra Basketball League is working towards using the three man officiating system this season, which will help improve the standard of officiating at league games, which has been an issue over the past seasons. The Greater Accra Basketball Association will soon be sending on players information to the Ghana Basketball Association for licensing. There will not be any instances of double registration of players who previously could play for more than two teams in during the league season. These has been a major concern for the Ghana Basketball Association and it will be monitoring players together with the Greater Accra Basketball League.

from africabasket.com

Coast province’s Shimba Hills High School’s girls basketball team humiliated Manor House from the Rift Valley province 123-9 as this year’s Kenya secondary schools’ term one games started at Kangaru High School on Tuesday.

The championships are sponsored by Brookside Dairies. Shimba Hills, representing the Coast in the absence of last year’s winners, the now disbanded Mombasa High School, outplayed Manor House in all departments as national team forward Purity Odhiambo and Kenya under-18 players Fatma Mohammed, Susan Akinyi and Lucy Ohanga forced a 26-02 lead in the first quarter and 59-05 lead at the break before building the lead to 92-05 at the end of the third quarter.

In the other girls’ matches, St Angela from Eastern hammered North Eastern 117-0. In the boys’ matches, last year’s winners Laiser Hill Academy had an easy time beating Meru School 121-23 to stay on course for a defence of their title.

Vincent Maina led the scores for Laiser with 21 points. Kevin Ominde scored a game-high 31 points to lead St Austin’s Academy to a 78-58 win over stubborn Nyeri High School while Friend’s School, Kamusinga, defeated Maseno School 75-64 and Shimba Hills boys hammered Wajir from North Eastern 148-26.

IT’S not going to be an easy ride to the men’s division one championship title this season. This is the message the so-called ‘small teams’ are sending out to the big guns just one week into the season as they refuse to be pushed around.

There was no surprise in five matches over the weekend at the Palais des Sports, but judging from the level of play of some teams, there might be some around the corner.

Baya 79 … Mont Fleuri Dawgz 68

For their first match in the top flight, last year’s division two winners Mont Fleuri Dawgz ‘JP’ scored 24 points in Baya’s winwere up against defending champs Baya and their deadly shooter Jean-Paul ‘JP’ Camille – the best player of 2008.
Getting 20 points, including four 3-pointers from playmaker Reggie Ah-kong, whose father Nigel Ah-kong – a former playmaker with Premium Cobras and the Seychelles’ national team – is the team’s coach, the Dawgz were not intimidated by Baya and they made life difficult for them throughout despite losing 68-79.
Dawgz also got 15 points from centre Jim Créa and 11 from Steven André in a losing debut.
‘JP’ had the hot hands for Baya with 24 points, including two 3-pointers, and he was helped in offence by forward Dave Roseline with 20 points and centre Robert Léon with 18, while Nigel Annette – who is back with the team after a lean spell with PLS Hawks – got 12 (all from beyond 3-point range).

Praslin Warriors 44 … MBU Rockers 79

Paced by swingman Cyril Agrippine with 20 points, Keven Morel with 18 and playmaker Nigel Sinon with 14, the Rockers rocked the Warriors 79-44 for a good start to the season.
With just six players, it was always going to be a tough match for Praslin-based Warriors as the Rockers, coached by Alvin Alcindor, won all four quarters 21-7, 14-12, 26-14 and 16-11 for a convincing win.
Jackson Auguste led the Warriors in scoring with 16 points.

Angels 61 … RC Dynamics 58

Before fouling out, Kieren Agathine did his job for Angels with 24 individual points as his team weathered Dynamics’ late storm to prevail 61-58.
Skippered by centre Steve Antat, Anse Boileau-based Angels won the first half 30-23 but lost the second 31-35. Franky Esther and Barry Dubignon combined for 23 points for Angels.
With three players fouling out, Dynamics had three players – Jean-Paul Desaubin (17 points), Kenneth Domingue and James Joubert (both 15) – in double figures.

Premium Cobras 72 … Cascade Bullets 45

Nigerian Alao Solomon carried the scoring load for the Cobras, who also got 11 points from big men Alex Baron and captain Dominic Pillay on the way to a 72-45 win over the Bullets.
It wasn’t as easy a victory as the score might suggest. After leading 17-12 at the end of the first quarter, the Cobras, winners of the recent Angel Fish-sponsored Curtain-raiser tournament, trailed 24-22 early in the second before stepping on the accelerator to distance themselves from any kind of threat posed by the Bullets.
With the much-travelled centre Biko Biong back in their line-up after last playing for Premium Cobras, the Bullets got 20 points, 12 of those coming from behind the arc, from Dan Côme.

PLS Hawks 87 … Beau Vallon Heat 41

Playmaker Karim César made a rare start and he did not disappoint coach Tony Juliette with 14 points, including two 3-pointers, as PLS Hawks steamrollered Beau Vallon Heat 87-41.
As they won all four quarters, 11-8, 30-7, 24-14 and 22-12, the Hawks saw centre Barry Baron come off the bench to score four treys for 12 of his joint-game-leading 22 points, while Christopher Camille and Neddy Fanchette added 15 apiece.
Pascal Bibi matched Baron’s 22 points in a lost cause for the Heat.

G. G.

In 1994, the Kenya national women's side was the only African team that participated in the World Championships in Australia.

Rather than hit the peak from that outing 15 years ago, the women's game seemed to have plummeted to an all time low- at least going by the latest results posted at international meets.

Flashback: The date is February 2007. The event is the zone 5 All Africa Games qualifiers and the venue is the Amahoro Petit Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda.

The team took on and humiliated Rwanda (96-40 and 95-38) in two games with a virtuosos show that left the hosts dazed and earned them admiration from the packets fans.

In September of the same year, Kenya were in Dakar, Senegal for the Africa Feminine Championships. Here, where the team had won silver medal enren route the Australia festival, things became different.

Kenya were bottom in this 12 team competition. Losing all their matches. But KBF chairman Agina Wesonga applauded that performance saying the young team did the country proud.

Remember in their last African championships hosted at the Moi International Sports Center, Kasarani, in 1997, Kenya battled hard and finished in the fourth position.

Exactly two years latter Rwanda again hosted the Africa Nations Cup (ANC) Zone Five qualifiers and the venue is the same but the results are shockingly different.

Rwanda beat Kenya 61-52 and 69-65 suprisingly bagging the only ticket available for the continental festival that is slated for Antananarivo, Madagascar in September. They also lost 53-57 to Uganda.

So what could have happened in two years that Kenya collapsed so dramatically while Rwanda pushes for recognition as a dominant force in the region and Uganda hangs close ?

But by virture of being second, Kenya habour strong hopes of a Fiba Africa wild card. Already South Africa beat Zimbabwe in Zone Six to joined Rwanda and top four finishers from the Dakar show.

Should the team get a wild card and parade together with the other 12 nations in the Indian Ocean island, then there is need for Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) to do things differently this time round if they are to post better results.

Bring on some oversease based players and they are many out there. Assemble the team early for training. Then only shall the team do well and shake the like of African champions Mali, Senegal, Nigeria and Angola.

A proof that Kenyan can no longer boast to be the regional queens was clear during another back to back regional tournament within one month of each other.

And the task is for KBF to do something about the state of the game in the country before it can slid down any further.

I did not attend the qualifiers in Kigali, but from what is being said, nothing right happened there. Losing to Rwanda and Egypt (men) were not least suprising. But going to down to Rwanda and Uganda (women) were unacceptable.

Upon return players complained about almost everything. But their concern were on too many coaches who were not working together as a unit while directing plays from the team bench.

But I did travelled with the Nairobi women's team to the East and Central Africa Inter Cities championships in Arusha, Tanzania and from my observations, women basketball must rise up sooner or perish.

There is absolutely not much one can be proud of. And the challenge is to the coaches who handle the players countrywide. They must rise up above petter politics and start moulding players for the future.

The Nairobi team had Caroline Achieng (Kigali captain), Hilda Inadsi, Anastasia Njeri, Emma Nyakweba and Eleanor Musundi. The same players were also in the Kigali team.

Another eight joined them- Bridgit Nanzala, Rebecca Sarange, Eunice Ouma, Faith Owich, Mildred Achieng, Irene Makori and Angela Luchivya (national team and Arusha captain) .

Nairobi rode to a 30-7 first quarter lead but inexplicably crushed 64-65 to Dar in game one of the three team series- The other was Arusha). They managed only one foul shot late in the pivotal third quarter !

Under a scorching sun, Luchivya efforts bore little fruits, Indasi so hot in the first quarter, could not find the angle there after while Achieng complained aloud of not being given the ball.

In the finals, coach Ben Oluoch had no option but to change the tactics- and it did the trick. Luchivya was the usual driving force from the back court, Achieng saw a lot of the balls (12 points, 12 rebs, six assists ) and many minutes on the courts.

The enterprising Faith Owich was a surprise package, picked only as the 12th player, she battled her way to the starting five in the finals won 53-27 by Nairobi. Hopefully she can only get better from there.

Kenya can soundly beat anyone in the region but where is the consistency ? And where is the leadership on the court ? what happens when Achieng finally retires from international events ?

Is there any player out there now who will step onto the podium and play the five man so tirelessly as Achieng ? And what about the tigerish Luchivya, who does not have many years left either ?

The one man and the five man roles the duo have anchored over the years for Kenya will soon be up for grabs. Who will step up at the national level ? These are questions that beg answers.

Of course there are many players. Look at Nanzala, Emma, Musundi and Yvonne Akinyi, Beryl Amayo ? Don't they have the height but can they be as dominant as "Majeng" ?

As Kenya hope and pray for a wild card to Annatanarivo can the team do better than they are already doing and improve on their last placings in Dakar in 2007 ?

Let all coaches who handle women teams in the league develop dependable players four future national team assignments. This is the challenge I can throw out to them now.

Where will we get another Queen Olumbo, Susan Kariuki, Caroline Omamo, Nasilla Achieng, Catherine Shave etc. etc.

It was no fluke that Kenya took on the best in the Adelaide world championships. It was here that Tom Munyama's girls made so much noise that the door to the USA was flung open. Those were the days.

Dann OWERRE

Since it was inaugurated in 1987, with a total of seven men's teams, the Kenya national classic league has always got off as planned over the years.

But for the first time in its 22 year history, it failed to get off the ground over the weekend. Team managers decided that unless they sit down with Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) to address some critical issues it will not start.

For the basketball fraternity, this situation is a worrying one. So what could have happened that this year's edition could not get off at the usual venue of Coca Cola National Stadium - previously Nyayo. ?
KBF called for team managers on March 21 at the KCB sports Club, Ruaraka. This was during the pre season tournament. While the team managers arrived with questions to put across to the national officials for deliberations. It was a no show with only fixtures secretary Joseph Amoko in attendance.

Amoko could only handle matters pertaining to the league fixtures, not constitution, not accounts and not anything else. Managers were not amused. How could they call us for a meeting they were not ready to preside over ?

They all thought they were being taken for a ride yet clubs like Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) had incurred expenses sending their representatives from Mombasa for the meeting. This seemingly was the straw that broke the camel's back.

As if nothing ever happened, only a few days latter the fixtures were send out to the clubs. To KBF this seemed a pretty normal scenario. To the teams it was not. And now there is a stalemate.

The teams decided they were not going to honour the fixtures until such a time that a meeting was convened and matters resolved. They called one on April 4- the day the league was to start- at the very venue !

The message seemed to have reached home- because there were only a few players and fans at the Stadium. KBF had drawned a four game card for both days.

The managers agenda number one was the league. The other was the constitution. The stakeholders present hit the points home one after the other. And this is what they decided.

They took issues with KBF wondered aloud how the national officials could dare fail to attend a meeting at the KCB Sports Club two weeks ago yet they were the ones who called for it !

"It was very sad that KBF, who have very little expenses to meet, called us for a meeting and some of us were sponsored by their institutions only for them (KBF) to take a flight elsewhere." one angry official told the meeting.

The team managers accused KBF of high handedness by insisting "the league was going to start as scheduled while they have not met us." and vowed nothing will go on," until things will have been sorted out."

This well attended meeting, chairman by veteran George Namake reportedly had all the teams except the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), Kisumu Lakeside and Blazers sides.

The meeting decided that the constitution must be changed to allow teams have a vote during the national elections "as they have suffered enough over the years".

"This is a problems that begun last year. Lets no one think we are fighting KBF, we just feel things are going wrong and no one is addressing them." said one stakeholder adding that "We will ignor KBF fixtures until they meet with us."

They agreed that a league and competitions committee be constituted to do an alternative fixtures ready by next week before they meet KBF on April 18 to chart the way forward for the game in the country forever. They proposed April 25 as new dates for league.

The committee to be composed of coaches, referees, university, corporate and self sponsored teams was named to work hand in hand with Amoko. If KBF trash it, they will unveil their plan B.

They settled on the seven namely -Dennis Chute, Nelly Odera, Edson Mogisha (self sponsored), Tony Ochieng (university), Samuel Oyoo (churches), Chris Ogutu and Angela Luchivya (corporate). There will be two more representing the coaches and referees.

In the coaches committee, they agreed on Thomas Olumbo, Carey Oketch, Emmanuel Ochieng and Sammy Wanjohi. KBF second vice chairman Chris Kinyua attended.

From that meeting, it now clear that basketball in the country is at crossroads. KBF must come out and meet the stakeholders. And as the team managers say, they are at war with no one and wants to sit down for a lasting solution.

KBF have set April 18 as a date they will meet the stakeholders. This is very welcome news for the games fraternity. Its less than two weeks. The two parties must agree. There is no two way about it.

Dann OWERRE
FIBA Africa