Basketball in Africa

Strathmore University and Blades, the two basketball clubs from one university, will play each other in a national classic league match on Saturday at the Strathmore Grounds.
The most interesting facts about this match is that both teams will be playing at a venue they understand well and are handled by the same coach.
Tony Ochieng is the head coach for the two sides. He led Strathmore to promotion from division one last season behind Equity Bank while Blades reached premier league quarterfinal playoffs.
On Saturday, Ochieng will sit on the Strathmore bench as his assistant Sylvia Kamau takes charge of Blades.
Ochieng, who has so far seen Blades win three out of three matches, says the match is crucial for both sides.
For Blades, he says; “they must win to maintain their unbeaten run and top the league.”
On the other hand, Strathmore has won one and lost one match so far thus a win will be good to push them up the log.
“After the weekend loss to Co-op Bank, they have to win this one and redeem their chances of breaking into top four.”
Emmanuel Soja will be the star attraction for Blades whereas Peter Shilton will lead Strathmore.
Experienced Blades
Experience and exposure in the league will definitely give Blades an edge over their less experienced opponents. Blades have another match on Sunday against Kenyatta University Pirates and could end up top of the table if they win both ties.
Second-placed Kenya Ports Authority will play host to champions Co-operative Bank in a rematch of last season’s playoffs final.
Lions will be seeking to halt their two matches winless streak when they play against Nairobi Aviation College on Saturday.
University of Nairobi’s Terrorist will be up against Ulinzi Warriors as they seek to continue with their good run.
Ulinzi will play their second match of the weekend against Mennonite on Sunday. Paul Olanya and Dieter Okoth, who are on military mission in South Sudan, are the main absentees for the soldiers.
There will be an interesting matchup in the women premier when former champions Eagle Wings meet newly-promoted Ulinzi Blades on Sunday. Soldiers Rebecca Sarange, Mildred Akinyi and Bridgit Nanzala played for Wings before returning to the military side.
On their part, Wings lost key players in the off-season and narrowly won their opening match 49-48 against Safe Spaces.
The Evelyn Kedogo side will be looking for a third straight win as Ulinzi stake claim on the second win after one loss and one win so far.
Champions KPA will host Co-op Bank in Mombasa on Sunday hoping to extend their stay at the summit while the bankers will play NYTA-Shimba on Saturday. In Nairobi, Sprite Storms has a date with Strathmore University.
Other matches will have Kenya College of Accountancy- University, KCA-U, tackle Safe Spaces and Mennonite play Kenyatta University Oryx.
KBF Fixtures: Saturday- Mombasa County vs Zetech College (12pm, KPA gym), NYTA-Shimba vs Co-op Bank (2pm), KPA Men vs Co-op Bank (4pm), Baraka X-Treme vs Umoja (10am, Thika High School), JKUAT vs World Hope (12pm, Menengai High School), Nakuru Club vs Thunder (12pm, Mother of Apostles Seminary), MKU Eldonets vs Trailblazers (10am), KCA-U vs Safe Spaces (9am, Strathmore Grounds), ANU vs Trailblazers (10:30am), Little Prince vs MKU Kakamega (12pm), Strathmore University vs Blades (1:30pm), KCA-U vs Dankid Academy (3pm), Strathmore University vs Sprite Storms (10:30am, Nyayo gymnasium), Mennonite vs KU Pirates (12pm), Nairobi Aviation College vs Lions (2pm), Ulinzi Warriors vs Terror (4pm); Sunday- KPA Ladies vs Co-op Bank (10am, KPA gym), JKUAT vs MKU Kakamega (9am, Thika High School), Baraka X-Treme vs ANU (10:30am), KCA-U vs Trailblazers (9am, Nyayo gymnasium), KU Oryx vs Mennonite (10:30am), Ulinzi Blades vs Eagle Wings (12pm), KU Pirates vs Blades (2pm), Ulinzi Warriors vs Mennonite (4pm).