12 November 2010
KENYA : ICC basketball team may pull out of play-offs
By CAXTON APOLLO aayienga@yahoo.co.uk
The International Christian Centre men’s basketball team has threatened to pull out of the national league play-offs which start on Friday unless they secure sponsorship to travel to Mombasa.
South Africa-trained coach Faustin Mgendi has appealed to the ICC church congregation to come to their rescue by contributing towards their trip to the Coastal city to meet hosts Kenya Ports Authority on November 20.
Mgendi said ICC, who qualified for the eight-team play-off quarter-finals after finishing fifth with 33 points, will need Sh100,000 for transport and accommodation the two opening matches against KPA at the Makande gymnasium.
He said ICC team will have no option but to withdraw from the play-offs should they fail to get financial assistance in good time.
“We have been experiencing financial problems after the church stopped its support when we had geared up to win the championship. We therefore appeal for the well wishers to salvage the situation,” said Mgendi.
Skipped match, lost points to cut costs
The coach further disclosed that ICC had deliberately skipped their return leg match against KPA at KCB sports club to avoid the cost of the trip to Mombasa but still the strategy failed to solve their financial problems.
Despite forfeiting the two points, ICC still finished the regular season in fifth position, which meant that they were to face fourth-placed KPA.
Mgendi said ICC, who were fourth last year after losing 77-68 to Co-operative Bank, had their good performance interrupted following the unavailability of their Shauri Moyo training venue which is being used as a centre for the national schools examinations.
Champions Kenya Commercial Bank Lions will open their title campaign against Strathmore University in Game One at the Nyayo National Stadium at 4pm on Friday.
The bankers emerged winners in the regular season with 41 points while coach Tony Ochieng’s varsity students survived by a whisker, scooping the eighth spot with 31 points.
Women’s reigning champions Eagle Wings, who topped the 10-team table with 35 points, will start as hot favourites in their opener against a weak Mennonites side.
Unstoppable in their bid to return
Ulinzi Warriors, who look unstoppable in their bid to return to the Premier League next year, will entertain World Hope in the lower competition’s play-offs opener while runner-up Mennonites, who have 43 points, face sixth-ranked Nairobi Aviation.
Full fixtures
Friday: Ulinzi Warriors v World Hope (10am), Mennonites v Nairobi Aviation (12pm), Eagle Wings v Mennonites (2pm), KCB Lions v Strathmore University (4pm);
Sunday: Parklands Baptist v Trail Blazers (9am), Nairobi Aviation v Mennonites (10.30am), Yana v Flames of the USIU-A (12pm), Strathnore v Sprite Storms (2pm) Co-op Bank v Tigers (4pm)
The International Christian Centre men’s basketball team has threatened to pull out of the national league play-offs which start on Friday unless they secure sponsorship to travel to Mombasa.
South Africa-trained coach Faustin Mgendi has appealed to the ICC church congregation to come to their rescue by contributing towards their trip to the Coastal city to meet hosts Kenya Ports Authority on November 20.
Mgendi said ICC, who qualified for the eight-team play-off quarter-finals after finishing fifth with 33 points, will need Sh100,000 for transport and accommodation the two opening matches against KPA at the Makande gymnasium.
He said ICC team will have no option but to withdraw from the play-offs should they fail to get financial assistance in good time.
“We have been experiencing financial problems after the church stopped its support when we had geared up to win the championship. We therefore appeal for the well wishers to salvage the situation,” said Mgendi.
Skipped match, lost points to cut costs
The coach further disclosed that ICC had deliberately skipped their return leg match against KPA at KCB sports club to avoid the cost of the trip to Mombasa but still the strategy failed to solve their financial problems.
Despite forfeiting the two points, ICC still finished the regular season in fifth position, which meant that they were to face fourth-placed KPA.
Mgendi said ICC, who were fourth last year after losing 77-68 to Co-operative Bank, had their good performance interrupted following the unavailability of their Shauri Moyo training venue which is being used as a centre for the national schools examinations.
Champions Kenya Commercial Bank Lions will open their title campaign against Strathmore University in Game One at the Nyayo National Stadium at 4pm on Friday.
The bankers emerged winners in the regular season with 41 points while coach Tony Ochieng’s varsity students survived by a whisker, scooping the eighth spot with 31 points.
Women’s reigning champions Eagle Wings, who topped the 10-team table with 35 points, will start as hot favourites in their opener against a weak Mennonites side.
Unstoppable in their bid to return
Ulinzi Warriors, who look unstoppable in their bid to return to the Premier League next year, will entertain World Hope in the lower competition’s play-offs opener while runner-up Mennonites, who have 43 points, face sixth-ranked Nairobi Aviation.
Full fixtures
Friday: Ulinzi Warriors v World Hope (10am), Mennonites v Nairobi Aviation (12pm), Eagle Wings v Mennonites (2pm), KCB Lions v Strathmore University (4pm);
Sunday: Parklands Baptist v Trail Blazers (9am), Nairobi Aviation v Mennonites (10.30am), Yana v Flames of the USIU-A (12pm), Strathnore v Sprite Storms (2pm) Co-op Bank v Tigers (4pm)
# posted by afrbk : 12:01
