National women’s champions Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) coach Anthony Ojukwu is confident his team will reclaim the FIBA Africa Zone Five title in Kigali, Rwanda.
Speaking before his team’s departure to Kigali, by road, the long-serving tactician said their 11-day camp in Mombasa was key in fine-tuning in their readiness for the task ahead.
The eight-day nine-team championship, which will be played at the iconic Kigali Arena, tips off on Saturday. The winner will qualify for the 2023 FIBA Africa Champions Cup slated for Cairo, Egypt in December.
“I believe the preparations we have had are sufficient and will carry us through. We expect tough competition and therefore we will be taking every opponent seriously as we advance through the championship,” he said.
Four Kenya Lionesses players led by Spain-based Victoria Reynolds, Medina Okot, Selina Okumu, Vilma Owino, and captain Natalie Akinyi will lead the team’s charge.
Also in his stable are Morgan Greene from the USA and a young Malian in Aminata Samassekou, who Ojukwu describes as an admirable talent who has featured for her national team at the junior side at the international level.
“She is a very young but talented player who I believe will rise up to the occasion, having played international basketball at the junior level. She is a good playmaker who can also score," he said.
The dock women lost the crown to Alexandria Sporting Club (ASC) of Egypt when they went down 78-68 during the final played in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania last October.
“We have had 11 days of residential camp in Mombasa, and I believe the team is well prepared for the task ahead. Like every other tactician, the target is to go all the way to win the title and book a place in the continental competition,” he said.
Other clubs involved are Vijana Queens and Jeshi La Kujenga Taifa (Tanzania), Nile Legends (South Sudan), JKL Lady Dolphins (Uganda), Gladiators (Burundi), Equity Hawks (Kenya) and hosts APR and Rwanda Energy Group (REG).
Earlier this week, FIBA Africa announced a new format for the competition, which includes the introduction of new eligibility rules to its rosters.
Under the new rules, team composition must have eight national players. In addition, four of the final 12 will be foreign players, two of which will come from Africa and two from outside the continent.
