Kenya Ports Authority coach Anthony Ojukwu says they will need to be at their best against Equity Bank Hawks in the playoff finals.
The best-of-five games series tips off at the Nyayo Stadium gymnasium this weekend with two matches on the card before switching to Mombasa.
The long-serving tactician is preparing the national champions for his 20th playoff finals, 14 of which ended his way.
“We play Game One and Two on Saturday and Sunday and then Games Three and, if need be, Four and Five in Mombasa,” said Ojukwu.
“Hawks are a good team, a very all-round team with good players. We need to be at our best.”
“We need to prepare perfectly on our strengths and try to improve on our weaknesses.”
They must bring their ‘A’ game and play like champions if they are to retain their title.
“My point guards need to improve on their confidence and have good management of the game,” he said.
The Porters won both regular season matches but Ojukwu believes the playoffs are a different ball game.
His journey started in 1998 when he took over from coach Sammy Wanjohi, who left for a coaching course in Germany.
“Being the captain of the men’s team at the time, I was seconded to handle the ladies’ team as a coach,” he said.
Despite his young age, he was in charge of the team which had numerous experienced players like the late Phoebe Orimba, Milk Getuno and Bertha Akuno.
“This is where I built my career as a coach. I had a lot of encouragement, especially from the senior players, who believed in my capabilities,” said Ojukwu.
“I have won the league eight years in a row, six of them unbeaten.”
Ojukwu’s most memorable titles came in the 2021/22 and 2022/23 seasons. He had just returned to the touchline after a sabbatical leave.
“Motivation is always there since winning the league comes with a direct ticket to the Zone Five championships,” he said.
“The regional championships offer a perfect opportunity gauge the team with the best in the Zone and Africa, should you qualify to the next round.”
The men’s Premier League title race will be between unbeaten Nairobi City Thunder and KPA. The series starts in Mombasa this weekend.
