KEN - Kenya's homework ahead of AfroBasket for Women

NAIROBI (AfroBasket Women/FIBA World Championship for Women) - When the 12-team AfroBasket for Women 2013 tips off in Mozambique's capital of Maputo in September, Kenya will be one of the four African teams with a FIBA World Championship for Women historic.

The others include Nigeria, Mali and Senegal, and defending champions Angola is yet to compete in the event.

Kenya women's national team is currently on twice-a-week preparation in Nairobi ahead of Africa's flagship tournament.

Their only world stage appearance took place in 1994 in Australia, after finishing runners-up as host of the Africa Championship a year earlier.

Among the silver medalists coaching staff was Ronald "Ronnie" Owino, although he did not travel with the team to Australia.

Owino is currently serving as the team's head coach, and he has recently announced a 23-player preliminary squad that he hopes to trim to 15 in early September.

Although Owino believes in his team's potential he admits that the reality is different from the team 1993 Kenyan team.

"Back in the days," he told FIBA.com "We had a decent team."

"Just after the world championship, seven or eight Kenyan players got scholarship to further their education in the USA.

"In this current team we have three or four player that can make big impact contribution to the team'" he explained.

Among the pre-selected players are foreign-based Rose Ouma (Dubai), Miriam Wandala and Brenda Adhiambo (USA).

While Ouma graduated from Texas Wayland Baptist University, Adhiambo plays for Seattle University.

But, when it comes to Kenya's women basketball, home-based Hilda Indasi comes to everyone's mind. She is only Kenya's player of the moment.

The Mozambique AfroBasket Women runs from 20 to 29 September, and it serves as a qualifier for the 2014 FIBA World Championship for Women to held in Turkey.

Only the winner and runners-up of the African event will secure places to the world championship.

They will take on Mali, Cape Verde, Cameroon, Angola and Nigeria in Group B of the Mozambique's showpiece.

"It is a tough Group, especially Angola, but we are hoping to go there and compete," Owino said.

Kenya's perliminary squad: Samba Mjomba, Brenda Angeshi, Grace Wanjiku, Susan Akinyi, Denise Apondi, Purity Adhiambo Linda Alando, Emma Nyakweba,Hilda Indasi, Zipporah Khasoa, Silalei Shani, Zipporah Odhiambo, Betty Kananu, Eleanor Musundi, Nancy Atieno, Debra Obunga, Angela Okoth, Vilma Akinyi, Belinda Atieno, Annerose Atieno, Miriam Wandala (USA) Brenda Adhiambo (USA) Rose Ouma (Dubai).

Kenya last played in AfroBasket in 2007 when they finished bottom of the table.

FIBA