Basketball in Africa

The national men's basketball team has been invited to take part in a four-nation invitational tournament in Johannesburg, South Africa from March 18-22. Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) Secretary General Vitalis Gode has confirmed they will be honouring the invite.
Already, Co-operative Bank tactician Carey Odhiambo has been handed the coaching job and has said key changes will be effected.
“We will work mostly with young players but still have some of the ones who did duty last time in Uganda. There must be good transition so we cannot overhaul the team completely,” he said.
Departure date has been tentatively set for March 17 and Kenya will face off with Nigeria, Mozambique and host South Africa in a round-robin format.
Meanwhile, KBF has released fixtures for the first half of the 2015 national classic league that gets underway in a fortnight.
Basketball league starts 
In the opening round of play on March 14-15, men premier league champions Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) begins their campaign with a home tie against Equity Bank while runners-up Ulinzi Warriors will play United States International University- Africa (USIU-A).
Newcomers Umoja will start life in the top league with an away fixture against Nakuru Club while Strathmore University plays Thunder and Lions will be up against Terror.
Equity Bank and Kisumu Lady Bucks are the new women premier league teams and will start their campaign against runners-up teams from last season’s campaign.
Equity begins away in Mombasa against KPA who finished second. The bankers are tipped to become a formidable force owing to the pedigree of their squad assemblage.
Head coach David Maina has his target set.
“We will be looking to make it to the playoffs. A qualification to the last four will definitely be a plus for my team.”
Kisumu Lady Bucks start at home to third-placed team in 2014 Co-operative Bank. Champions USIU-A will play Ulinzi Blades, Eagle Wings tackles Kenyatta University Oryx while Western Delight host Co-op Bank.
In division one, Blazers who were relegated from the premier league last season begins their campaign in the second-tier league against Don Bosco.
KBF Opening Fixtures: March 14- Baraka X-treme vs World Hope (Thika, 10am), MKU Thika vs Parklands Baptist (11:30), Eldonets vs Lakeside (UG, 10am), KPA Ladies vs Equity Bank (KPA, 2pm), KPA Men vs Equity Bank (4pm), Nakuru Club vs Umoja (MHS, 11am), EMYBA vs Trailblazers (Nyayo gymnasium, 9am), Blazers vs Don Bosco (10:30), Eagle Wings vs KU Oryx (12pm), Strathmore University vs Thunder (2pm), Lions vs Terror (4pm), Western Delight vs Co-op Bank (KPC, 10am); March 15- Kisumu Lady Bucks vs Co-op Bank (KSG, 11am), ANU vs Barclays Bank (9am, Nyayo gymnasium), Upper Hill vs IAT-Little Prince (10:30am), Dankind Academy vs 4-Christ (12pm), USIU Flames vs Ulinzi Blades (2pm), USIU Tigers vs Ulinzi Warriors.

Most of the teams continued preparations for the 2015 Kenya Basketball Federation league at the pre-season tournament held over the weekend at Nyayo National Stadium gymnasium.
The new season begins on March 14 and the tournament was meant to aid in their preparations. Former men premier league champions Co-operative Bank fielded two teams that played each other in the final. Spartans beat Co-op Bank 47-33 helped by 15 points from Athiey Lwala and 10 from Nick Anyang. David Ogolla scored highest for Co-op Bank with 6 points while Spartans led 29-20 at halftime.
In the semifinals, Spartans won 48-45 against United States International University- Africa (USIU-A) while Co-op Bank beat Blades 42-34.
Spartans came second in Pool A with 5 points while Blades topped with 6. USIU-A and Co-op Bank tied in Pool B with 5 points each but the students finished top having beaten the bankers 47-36 in their tie.
The tournament was the last assessment platform for Co-op Bank head coach Carey Odhiambo as he fine-tunes his final squad for the upcoming season.
“We had 22 players in trials so we used this tournament to see who to pick as well as try out different combinations,” he said.
“We have statistics for every player in all games they played that we will use in making selection. We will not drop a player with no reason because we want only seventeen so five have to go.”
Strathmore University also had two teams that took part in the league last season. It is a tough season ahead for head coach Tony Ochieng as he seeks to get answers to their playoffs jinx.
Strathmore look to strengthen team
His teams are always at their best in regular season but fails to get past the playoffs quarterfinals.
“Our biggest problem is examinations because they come mostly when we are heading to playoffs. Its a big priority for the players because they are students and we can do nothing. Our training is hugely affected,” he said.
Ochieng had an opportunity to see some of his new players promoted from the low-tier team play at the pre-season tourney but most of them will link up in April.
“We had trials and over 70 players turned up but we will select only ten. The program we have has helped in ensuring consistency every season because I don't pick established players but straight from high school.”
He plans to hold a series of high-profile friendly games with league sides before the season starts. With the first league title still elusive for Strathmore, Ochieng is planning to employ a new strategy this season and mount a solid challenge for the title.
“I will come up with one strong team comprising of best players from the two teams plus a few recruits. The rest will form the second side.”
In the women category, only newly promoted Equity Bank and Co-op Bank participated playing two games. Equity won both 33-21 on Saturday and 36-25 on Sunday.
In the Sunday tie, new signing Hilda Indasi top scored with 12 points and Eleanor Musundi added 9 for Equity. Mercy Etyang and Mercy Achieng scored a combined 12 points for Co-op Bank.
Equity is angling to make a positive mark in their first premiership season and head coach David Maina was happy taking part in the tourney.
“Even though we have not played well, Co-op Bank was good opposition for us and we consider our participation value adding,” he said.
The team has only signed Indasi formerly with USIU-A and Mercy Wanyama from Sprite Storms with the hope of finalizing at least one more signing before pre-season ends.
Denise Apondi and Samba Mjomba who joined Equity last season from Strathmore and Eagle Wings respectively are some of the experienced players in the team.
Maina says their individual experience should not be used to judge the team’s performance this season.
“The most important thing is whether they will gel together because if they don't its a different story.”
Full results: Spartans 21 Blades 29, Strathmore University 45 USIU-A 38, KCA-U 33 ANU 38, Umoja 35 Co-op Bank 37, Blades 45 KCA-U 37, Strathmore 36 Umoja 39, Strathmore 29 Co-op Bank 32, Blades 31 ANU 26, Co-op Bank ladies 21 Equity Bank ladies 33, Spartans 42 KCA-U 34, USIU-A 47 Co-op Bank 36, Equity Bank ladies 36 Co-op Bank ladies 25; Semifinals- USIU-A 45 Spartans 48, Blades 34 Co-op Bank 42; Final- Spartans 47 Co-op Bank 33.

Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) has become the third sporting body in the country to take a firm stand against doping.
Basketball has not been linked to any doping cases but the federation has moved to cushion its reputation against the vice.
Recently, doping has dominated sports headlines following reported cases in athletics. It is only last week that Athletics Kenya (AK) held a stakeholders forum and resolved to confront doping head-on.
In athletics, one of their main strategies will be to sensitize athletes on their responsibilities when it comes to doping.
KBF has now followed suit and warned players ahead of the new season that any such cases will attract heavy consequences.
According to the new league rules adopted at the 2015 annual general meeting, any person who uses, administers or facilitates the use of any doping substances shall be liable to a suspension of one (1) year for a first offence. A repeat of the same offence will attract a life ban.
“Doping in whatever form is outlawed by the Federation. In addition to any other sanction as the Federation may determine, the Federation reserves the right to carry out drug tests and any other anti- doping controls at any time during and after the season,” the Federation stated.
KBF adopts conference format
Starting this season, the league will be played in conferences. Each of the men and women premier leagues as well as national division one will have two conferences. Every conference will be played in two legs on a home and away basis with the top four teams in every conference proceeding to the playoffs quarterfinals.
At the inter-conference level, games will be played on basis of one game series. Quarterfinal games will be played on a best-of-three series while semifinal and final games will be on a best-of-five series.Classification games will be a one-off affair.
The new rules also seek to give all teams a fair playing ground in the playoffs series. “In the event of a game five (05), the Committee shall determine the venue provided that both teams shall have enjoyed home court advantage and sponsors interest shall be taken into account.”
Clubs will be able to sign players directly from primary and secondary schools who do not have national identification cards. However, there are strict requirements that must be fulfilled.
“They are eligible for registration with any club for participation in the league upon production of written authority from the Principal/Headteacher of such school allowing them to play for a club of their choice,” the rules read. “Such students shall also produce a valid school ID card. For students who have left school and do not possess a national ID card, a school leaving certificate from their last school shall suffice.”
Transfers a thorny issue
Transfer of players has always been a thorny issue but KBF is seeking to streamline that with the coming season. No club will be allowed to sign more than 26 players and six officials for a season.
The transfer window will end 14 days before commencement of the new season. When the season is in progress, there will be a transfer window running for the entire of June.
Outside the official transfer period, clubs will be allowed to make signings if they lose players due to certified permanent, physical or mental incapacity or death, or imprisonment or leaves the country for a minimum period of 6 months.
That will only be allowed once a club is in a position of providing tangible proof to the federation.
For premier league and division one transfers, there will be a transfer fee of Sh. 5, 000. The federation will retain Sh. 2, 000 and remit Sh. 3, 000 to the club losing a player.
The federation will also seek to instill discipline among players with hefty fines and suspension for culprits as well as teams that forfeit league games and cause abandonment.

Omony wants the AfroBasket tournament to open doors for Ugandan basketballers. PHOTO BY ISMAIL KEZAALA 

The number of times Uganda have participated at the Fiba AfroBasket - the men’s basketball continental biennial championship - reads naught.

But when this year’s edition tips off in Tunisia AugustSeptember, figure 1 will be entered as the Silverbacks, as the Ugandan national team are called, debut at the championships.

It is one moment Silverbacks captain, Stephen Omony - who learnt his game from St Leo’s College, Kyegobe in Fort Portal before taking it to another level while juggling his A’ Levels at Kitante High with Blue Jackets basketball club duty in 1997 - has been waiting for.

“It has been one of my dreams,” said the 6’4 feet guard, “First of all it is an honour to represent my country, and to captain it - it is a privilege. We can’t take this lightly as a team. We are carrying hopes of the entire nation; so for me it is a challenge.”

Omony added: “Can we win it (AfroBasket)? Well, I don’t get into something to lose. I would like to go there and win. We shall try to do that.”
Yet Omony, in his mid 30s, is not lost on reality.

“But also, we have to be realistic and manage our expectations. It’s our first time at Afcon (he loves to call it that) and the journey has not been easy.
“We missed out on two occasions but I felt on those two we should have qualified… But now that we have made it, we have to go for it.
Cushion
“But if we are to lose, I want us to lose honourably. Even in defeat, Uganda’s impact must be felt. We want to leave people there saying, ‘There is Uganda!’
“This is something we’ve been looking for. I want this to be our gateway. This is a chance for Ugandan players to get that much needed exposure and this is the stage where international scouts are looking out for talent.”

This year’s event is the 28th edition, and is also a qualifying competition for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

The women’s national team, the Gazelles, will also represent at the ladies’ 24th edition in Cameroon - in addition to the All Africa Games.

Stephen Omony

Fact file
2012 to date: Falcons
2010-2012: Miracle
2009-2010: Falcons
2008: Nizwa (Middle East). Six-month stint
2002-2008: Hawks (Seychelles)
2001: Nkumba Marines
1998-1999: Falcons/Kitante Hill
1997: Blue Jackets/Kitante Hill
Honours
Falcons: League titles in 1998, 1999
Hawks (Seychelles): 4 league titles

KAMPALA- For the fifth year in a row as evidenced during the opening night of this year’s Friday night light Ugandan fans showed they enjoy their sport when accompanied with musical entertainment.

Whether other sports federations can follow suit is a story for another day but for five years, going by last Friday’s attendance, the castle Lite sponsored tournament is bound to continue rocking.

Another capacity crowd is thus anticipated for the second round of games this evening.

Team Amoding, one of two teams playing their first games this season get action underway against Team Legends that lost 53-43 to Team Blick on the opening round.

Team Lamunnu who made a triumphant debut, winning 70-40 over Team Koma play Team Malinga the other team that didn’t feature on the opening night.

Team Koma without injured captain Ben Komakech will look to Paul Odong for reprieve against Team Duxx while Team Enabu and Team Blick both winners over Team Sudi and Team Legends meet in the final game.

essenono@ug.nationmedia.com

The start of the 2015 DSTV Kenya Basketball Federation League is in the limbo after 15 clubs were given an ultimatum to clear their outstanding financial dues or face expulsion.
Most of those affected by the threat of expulsion are self-sponsored clubs. Nine of the teams in the red list are part of the premier league and six are from division one. They have about a month to clear with the league organizers before fixtures for the new season beginning on March 14 are drawn.
The men's teams which risk being locked out of the premier league are Aviation College, Thunder, Lions, Nakuru Club and Mennonite.
The women's teams are Mennonite, Eagle Wings, Western Delight and Sprite Storms. Teams which could be axed from participated in the division one league are World Hope, Lakeside, Parklands Baptist, Nebulas Kakamega, Eldonets and Jomo Kenyatta University of Science and Technology (JKUAT).
KBF is owed over Sh.1million by the clubs in league and affiliation fees that dates back to 2012 season.
This stern warning by the federation was issued as the teams started their pre-season training. “Teams are also advised to pay transfer fees for the players they had acquired for 2014. Unless these monies are paid, we shall not have any option but to stop the players from playing,” said competition secretary Joseph Amoko.
This is not the first time clubs are faced with money troubles. Last season, Safe Spaces which plays in the women's premier league experienced financial difficulties and faced difficulty in honouring their first leg away games. But, they defied all odds to reach the playoffs quarterfinals.
Lions saw a big percentage of their players troop away to other clubs after Kenya Commercial Bank withdrew their sponsorship.
Players had to did deep in their pockets as they struggled to the playoffs last year. Denis Opiyo, Victor Ochieng and Moses Wanjara were the only senior players who held on as the team seemed headed for demise at the start of the season.
In some games, they could not raise quorum playing with few players same as relegated Blazers and Safe Spaces. In the just concluded season, Mennonite ladies team gave away some games after failing to show up citing similar problems.

United States International University- Africa (USIU-A) ladies basketball team has become the first varsity side to win the Kenya Basketball Federation league title in its history.
The students beat Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) 81-50 in game four of the playoffs final played Sunday at the Nyayo National Stadium gymnasium.
The 3-1 series win was sweet revenge for KPA who beat them 3-2 in last season’s final.
This is the second major title for USIU-A this season after winning Zone V championship in August. Ironically, they beat KPA in the final.
“I am so happy because we have come from far,” head coach George Mayienga said after the win.
“Three years ago, we finished third and then second for the last two seasons. It was a good fight by the ladies.”
Hilda Indasi was named the most valuable player for the second time in three seasons and bagged Ksh.50, 000.
“I am really humbled by this win. Its the second for me as a player and the first with USIU. I cannot ask for anything more,” she said.
Indasi has already signed for the newly-promoted Equity Bank ahead of the 2015 season. She will link up with guard Samba Mjomba and already relishes the opportunity.
“As I move to the new team, I am settled and happy. I am grateful to USIU-A for supporting and making me who I am.”
Standards of the game are high, KPA coach
USIU-A proved superior and hungry for a win taking home three quarters. They won the first 22-14 and KPA the second 20-17 for a slim five points advantage at the breather.
Sarah Chan and Indasi led scoring for USIU-A with 9 and 7 respectively while KPAs highest scorer at halftime was Yvone Akinyi with 10. KPA had Natalie Akinyi and Helen Oketch accumulate three fouls each from the first two quarters.
It limited their playtime in the remaining quarters which visibly affected KPAs gameplan. USIU-A won the third and fourth quarters 28-6 and 14-10 respectively.
KPA head coach Anthony Ojukwu conceded defeat after watching his team put up an inferior fight in second half to lose by 31 points.
“The standards of women basketball in Kenya have gone high. This series was very competitive and we lost fairly to a good team.”
He promised to rebuild the squad by recruiting more young players in readiness for the new season that starts next month. Indasi top scored for USIU-A with 26 points while Chan added 16.
Natalie Akinyi scored highest for KPA with 11 points and Yvonne Akinyi had 10. USIU-A took charge of the series on Saturday winning game three 77-43 to break the one-all tie from last weekend.
It was Indasi who led the rout scoring 17 points, grabbed four rebounds and three assists. Chan added 16 points for the students and grabbed 21 rebounds while Yvonne Akinyi had a game high 20 points and one rebound for KPA.
USIU-A got a cash reward of Ksh. 600, 000 while KPA banked 300, 000. Co-operative Bank finished third after beating Sprite Storms 46-33 in the decider.
Celina Okumu scored 10 points for the bankers and Mercy Ouma 12 points for Storms. Co-op Bank made 10 free-throws and scored two 3-point shots against Storms’ seven free-throws and two 3-point shots.