NAIROBI (Kenya) - By winning one game during their Group B FIBA AfroBasket 2021 Qualifiers in Kigali, Rwanda, Kenya Morans are convinced they have one foot in next year's continental spectacle.

Forward Ronald Gundo Gombe currently leads all players in rebounds with an average of 10.7 boards per game.

But the 28-year-old pointed out that to realize this long cherished dream, Morans must be mentally ready to stick to the plan and execute for the entire forty minutes of action in the games coming in February.

"THE MOST IMPORTANT THING ABOUT OUR PERFORMANCE IS THAT WE'VE GIVEN OURSELVES A SECOND CHANCE OR RATHER A BETTER CHANCE TO GET TO OUR GOAL WHICH IS TO GET BACK TO AFROBASKET."- Ronald Gundo Gombe

Drawn in Group B alongside Angola, Mozambique and Senegal, Kenya need to win games to get there, he opened out. The focus for the next window, he insisted, should be 100 percent on preparation, watching the games and drawing how to counter our opponents.

"The most important thing about our performance is that we've given ourselves a second chance or rather a better chance to get our goal which is to get back to AfroBasket," Gombe said to FIBA.basketball.

He went on, "For the team to make it, we need to win games. It's as simple as that. We have everything we need to win. We have talent, size etc. It all comes down to preparations."

The 2.03m (6ft 8in) power forward also admitted that the win against Mozambique put the team in a better spot statistically and also mentally. But the first two games were not the outcome they really wanted.

"That win was a reminder of what we are capable of. I need to be consistent as the energy guy who does the dirty work, I cannot take breaks. I got into foul trouble that really put the team in a tough spot," Gombe admitted.

Gombe, who started all three games, said Kenyans came to Kigali on merit and expected nothing but to book an AfroBasket ticket.

He observed that by beating Mozambique 79-62 in their last Group B game, Kenya made a giant step in making a return to the continents biggest bonanza for the first time in 27 years.

"We did not play our basketball for the entire 40 minutes in those games. We cannot take breaks in between and that's our number one mistake that we need to rectify," he reflected.

Against Mozambique Kenya head coach Cliff Owuor, already missing the services of Tom Wamukota, called upon Gombe to play a key role in the absence of Desmond Owili who pulled out injured with only one minute into the game.

Gombe, who isn't one of the greatest scorers, but he is a monster under the boards and a strong defender ready to push and shove against the oppositions big players.

His main responsibility was to control the defensive back board and keep the Mozambicans at bay. He responded well to the challenge proving equal to the task.

In 22 minutes of action, Gombe pulled down 14 boards at both ends of the floor two less than leader Tyler Ongwae. He was perfect from the line and also scored ten points in that crucial encounter.

A free agent after one year with Spanish side Chocolate Trap/Filpenses, Gome went to Canisius College in Buffalo, New York before transferring to Robbert Morris for his last year.

He joined the team's camp in Nairobi from his base in USA and trained for only two days before flying out to Kigali for the tournament.

"We have showed that we are capable of competing in the big stage. So the team's expectation was nothing but to win games and qualify," Gombe, a member of the FIBA AfroCan silver medal winning side, said.

He added: "We understood how good our opponents were and how well they have performed over the years so we approached them with all the respect they deserved."

Kenya lost 92-54 and 83-66 to Senegal and Angola respectively but Gombe is convinced Morans can definitely improve on their performance against the two continental giants.

He pointed out that the future of the game in Kenya can only move up for the coming generation. What is promising is how young kids are starting to play the game nowadays.

"Most of us were introduced to the game in high school. With kids starting as early as 10 and younger, the game has no other option but to grow," Gombe concluded. 

FIBA