KEN- 14th Africa women club championship show starts in Nairobi

NAIROBI (Africa Women Club Championship) - Defending Africa women club champions Deportivo of Mozambique yesterday started their title defense on a sopund crushing Victoria Club of DR Congo 85-41 in a one sided Africa women club championships opener played at Nyayo National Stadium gymnasium.

After a drub first quarter where there was no one hiting the target in nearly two minutes, It Shokna Likasy of Deportivo who connected for the championships first basket. But Victoria took over and were ahead 12-9 in the first quarter.

Deportivo dominated the second 23-5, the third 23-11 and the fourth 30-13 to easily win the tie. Yolanda Likasy led all scorers with 20 points, Deolinda Nguela added 15 while Tania Coachene bagged another 12 for the winners who hit 12 three pointers.

"We played well and easy. This event is still long and we wil ltake every game as it comes." said winners coach Nasir Sala adding the draw was favourable.

Victoria, coached by former premier league player for Co-operative Bank of Kenya Charlie Buzangu scoring sheet was led by Kalanga Tshinyango who led all scorers with game high 21 points.

KPA....44 APR....43

In another game Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) yesterday struggled before posting a dissapointing 44-43 win over APR of Rwanda in a closely fought tie.

What was meant to be a cake walk in this opening pool B tie turned out to be a massive dissapointment for both the players and the fans rooting for them in this second game of the ten day tournament.

KPA got off to just the start they needed when point guard Mwajuma Suleiman connected with a three pointer that saw the victors ride to a bright 17-5 edge in the opening quarter that did not live upto expectations.

But APR who are boasting Kenyan products like Brenda Wasuda and national U 18 center, Purity Adhimbo combined well with Dangi Patience and Ndaya Brantze to cause havoc. The quatet led the Rwandese to a deserved 14-7 advantage in the second quarter.

After the break, a charged KPA had a basket from Everlyne Akoth as they rode to another 24-19 cushion before allowing Wasuda to hit two fouls shots to close 21-24. Caroline Arato then banked a fade away shot for a 26-21 KPA lead.

Adhiambo also bagged two foul shots and tied the game with yet another point from the line making ths scores 26-26 as the KPA coach Anthony Ojukwu fumed making an immediate substitution by bring in Hellen Oketch.

Adhiambo free shots again deadlocked the scores 28-28 from the line before Akoth, Yvonne Akinyi, Akoth and Joyce Makungu combination saw KPA sail away to a breathing 32-28 advantage. But the gritty APR were not done yet.

They three times in a row hit KPA on the fastbreak scoring unanswered baskets that brought the scores 38-32 as the buzzer sounded for the end of this highly exoplosive third quarter.

After resumption for the last ten minutes, Ndaya made responded with a three pointer making the scores 35-40 with 3:00 played. Agnes Anyango scrambled a shot that went in restoring a 42-36 KPA as many thought the game was over.

APR stormed right back of this ball game. Adhiambo, a high school player in Mombasa had no mercy for the coastal side as she went to the free throw line again hitting both shots for a 38-42 margin.

Akinyi connected from the perimeter 44-38 as teh KPA bench seemed to start celebrations. But again it was premature as another Nday three pointer with 0:24 second swished through the net making the scores 43-44.

But time saved the porters against the same team that they beat twice including in the finals of the Zone Five qualifiers played in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia only three weeks ago.

Coach Anthony Ojukwu was a sad man. He was called a time out to sort things out with less than minute to play but was utterly dissapointed that the team committed a turn over that was punished by their opponents.

He was even unable to talk to the press after the final buzzer had sounded. Admitting only that he was aslo shocked as the way his girls played like an inexperienced team late in the match.

Wings..........53 ABC.........66

Eagle Wings crushed 53-63 to ABC of Cote D'Ivoire in their opening Africa women club championship match played at Nyayo National Stadium on Thursday evening.

The loss, almost immediately complicates the prospects of the Kenyan team quarter final berth for the Kenyan powerhouse. They must now beat any of the top guns, Agosto, First Bank of Nigeria or Djoliba of Mali to have any hopes in this tight pool A.

This will be no easy feat as pool A dubbed the group of death has the toughest teams in this championships. The remaining opponents led by Primero Agosto, First Bank and Djoliba are also former champions of this event.

Wings trailed 15-18 in the first quarter as Caroline Achieng and her national team mate Eunice Ouma kept the team in contention despite a poor start. ABC, who were placed fifth in the last championships in Mozambique, had it easy.

Led by Ngoy Patricia, Fatoumata Camara, Berte Salimata and Abbody Stephanie, ABC maintained the same tempo in the second with a similar margin. Then a Ngoy three pointer at the buzzer took the teams to the break at 36-30.

But after the break, Wings were in disaray as the visitors cruised to 50-32 edge before Anastacia Njeri banked a three to see the score read 36-50. Achieng had it 40-52 but was frustrated as she was whistled for a travelling violation time and again.

Ngoy punched the air off the lungs of Wings when she sunk another huge three pointer as ABC lead 56-40 in the last quarter. Diomade Aiche made it a 20 point play at 64-44 despite Wings outscoring their opponents 13-10 in this quarter.

Achieng led Wings with 12 points while Ouma added 11 for Wings who had the rest contributing under 10.

ABC had a balanced attack led by Camara and Abbay who hit 12, Ngoy and Salimata 11 each while Ramatou Kone making 11.

Assistant coach Juma Kent was still optimistic of their chances." We have started on a slippery note but this is not the end of our dreams, We are still very much in contention if we can win one match against the so called big guns." he said.

Agosto...................63 First Bank..........56

Last year;s runners up Primero Agosto of Angola hit 2003 champions First Bank of Nigeria in a hotly contested game that proved to be the first tight game of the three day championships.

Agosto stamped their authority in three quarters, taking the first 17-14, second 23-16 and last by a close 11-9 edge. The Nigerians boasting former WNBA player, Mfon Udoka took the third at 19-12.

Ventoura Doulita made 17 points while Angela Cardoso sunk nine. For the losers, Oselebi Funmilayo scored 15 while Udoka chipped in with another 12.

Today Wings take on First Bank in what will also be a huge task. KPA return to face V Club. The game of the day pits Agosto against confident Djoliba while other matches will see KCC play next door neighbours APR, ABC meet Radi, CAS tackle champs Deportivo.

Todays fixtures:

APR v KCC (10 am), ABC v Radi (12pm), V Club v KPA (2 pm), CSA v Deportivo (4), First Bank v Wings (6pm), and Djoliba v Agosto (8 pm).

Dann OWERRE
FIBA