KEN - UK based girl named in provisional Kenya team

NAIROBI (All Africa Games) - UK based Kenya student, Marion Githegi, has been included in the provisional national women's team that started training for the All Africa Games on Monday.

Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) chairman Agina Wesonga, said that Githegi, a guard who plays high school ball in England will join the team late May.

"We want to include her in the provisional team. She is expected at the end of May." said Agina adding that the Nairobi based players has already started non
residential training".

Githegi, a student at Kimball Union Prep, has an impressive credentials and was even named to the England Basketball U15’s Regional and England All Star
Team but .

She says in her email to Agina, " I have learnt a lot over the 7 years that I have been playing basketball; I have met a lot of people who are now my friends but
most importantly I have grown to be a mature student athlete with my love for the game of basketball and will continue to pursue my career."

National team head coach Ronny Owino said he will give Githegi, who turns 20 on July 13, a chance in the team and see if she is upto the standards.

"If she is a good guard as her school credentials suggest, then we will give her a chance like anybody else when she finally comes." said Owino.

Owino said that he will call up 4 US based players to enhance the team's medal prospects. Beatrice Awino has already been ruled out due to examinations.

Kenya has been drawn in pool B in the Pan Africa festival that starts on July 13. They will play Tunisia, Mali, Zimbabwe, Senegal and defending
champions Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Co-operative Bank of Kenya over the weekend beat University of airobi "Terrorist" 71-60 n a Premier League match at Nyayo National Sadium gymnasium.

International guard Clif Ochieng fired 18 points to lead the bakers to their second succesive win. They led 37-=28 at the break. Brian Busu bagged 18 for the
campus lads.

It was double trouble for University teams as Sprite Storms dismissed UON "Dynamites" 57-54 Hilda Luvandwa managed 15 points fro Storms with Doreen Milala
scoring 10 for the losers.

Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (Jkuat) thrashed newly promoted Langata Crausaders 73-48.

The losers, who last week failed to travel to Mombasa for their opener against Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) have found out early that things will be rough.

Roy Kahure, Jkuat's national team player led all scorers with 21 points while Boniface Okulo managed 16.

Dann O'Were
FIBA correspondent in Kenya