NAIROBI (Kenya) - For close to three decades, Kenya were untouchable in the East African region both at country and club levels in women's basketball.

Outside the perennial African giants in Senegal, Mali, Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria, Kenya remains the only other African nation to have ever played at a FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup.

Featuring at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 1994 in Australia, the East Africans broke barriers for the game back home to open up a gateway that women can excel in a team sport. 

Kenya's Berther Achieng Akuno, who featured in Australia as a power forward, reminisces at the good times when they were on top and makes special reference to the pride that brought to her nation. Kenya had gone to Australia courtesy of finishing second at the FIBA Women's AfroBasket 1993 that was held in Dakar, Senegal. 

It was amazing and a good opportunity to all of us who managed to go to Australia from Africa. it was breathtaking to listen to our national anthem being played.

"UGANDA HAS IMPROVED TREMENDOUSLY AND MUST BE CONSIDERED AS FAVOURITES ESPECIALLY NOW THAT THEY ARE HOSTING. WE KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO QUALIFY AND WE SHALL GIVE IT OUR BEST SHOT."- Owino

Speaking exclusively to FIBA.basketball, Akuno who currently sits on the Kenya Basketball Federation Women's Commission, admitted that times have changed and a lot has happened leading to the change in guard in East Africa and on the continent. 

In yesteryears, the rest of the Zone 5 region looked at them as role models and eventually a benchmark for setting big targets to catchup and join them at the high table was laid out. 

Rwanda and later Uganda joined the party and proclaimed to never look back and indeed snatched their place right from beneath their own eyes. 

After a total of five appearances at the FIBA Women's AfroBasket, Kenya is among the only 12 countries to have played at this level five or more times but it has also been six years since they last played at the big stage. 

In 2013, they finished in 10th position at the continental showpiece in Mozambique and the following year were denied by neighbours Uganda who then qualified for the FIBA Women's AfroBasket for only their second time. 

Kenya has since missed out on the 2015 and 2017 editions in Cameroon and Mali respectively and with that in mind, they will be hoping to make a return to where they belong. 

Kenya head coach Ronnie Owino is optimistic that his current squad has what it takes to execute that and represent the Zone 5 region at the final event that will be held in Dakar, Senegal from August 9-18. 

"WE HAVE SEASONED PLAYERS SO HOPEFULLY THIS WILL COUNT FOR SOMETHING. ATHLETIC ABILITY IS IMPORTANT IN SUCH EVENTS THOUGH I THINK UGANDA HAS SOME ATHLETIC PLAYERS. WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE QUALIFIERS AND WE SHALL TAKE EACH GAME AS IT COMES"- Owino 

He has named Kenya poster girl Hilda Indasi Luvandwa, Samba Mjomba, Rose Atieno and center Vilma Achieng who come with massive experience having featured at the 2013 edition and have since gained massive exposure at club level on the continent. 

Superstar shooting guard Luvandwa, who has led Equity Hawks to two consecutive FIBA Africa Women's Champions Cup editions, is expected to lead the team's back court while Achieng's presence in the paint will come in handy for Kenya. 

Achieng, who played for UCU Lady Canons and won three national league titles in Uganda, will be playing in familiar territory in Kampala and this is something that Owino will be hoping to build on. 

Owino, who himself has been at the helm of two top clubs in six-time joint record champions Falcons (men) and KCCA Leopards (women) back in 2013, is quick to admit that his side faces an uphill task when they take on the hosts.

"Uganda has improved tremendously and must be considered as favourites especially now that they are hosting. We know what it takes to qualify and we shall give it our best shot. The teams to look out for are Uganda, Egypt and Rwanda. We will not underestimate any teams," Owino explained. 

"We have seasoned players so hopefully this will count for something. Athletic ability is important in such events though I think Uganda has some athletic players. We are looking forward to the qualifiers and we shall take each game as it comes." 

The trio of Selina Okumu, Anne Rose Otieno and Mercy Wanyama,  will give the team a look that exudes confidence, creativity and the hunger that comes with yearning for success to rewrite their own names in the history books of Kenyan basketball. 

The champions of the Zone 5 Qualifiers will join the reigning African champions Nigeria, runners up and hosts Senegal, Mali, Mozambique, Zone 2 champions Cape Verde, Zone 4 winners Cameroon and Angola who were crowned Zone 6 champions last week.  

FIBA