KEN - Why Kenya did poorly in FIBA Africa U18 show in Egypt-coach

NAIROBI (FIBA Africa U18 Championship) - Lack of preparation caused Kenya dearly during the 16th FIBA Africa U18 championships in Egypt, coach David Maina conceded.

The Kenyan tactician told FIBA correspondent that with just a little bit of training, the team would have won a few games during the championships and did the country proud.

Kenya never won a single tie at all during the 12 team tournament and ended up in the last position.Host Egypt pipped Angola 85-84 to claim the title. The two teams booked a ticket to the FIBA U18 World Championships in New Zealand next year.

Maina, who guided the juniors during the Zone Five qualiziers in Kampala, Uganda in August where the team beat the hosts, Rwanda, Burundi and Sudan had a totally different show in Alexandria.

"If at all we had assembled for even a few days trainings, there is no doubt in my mind that the boys would have done alot better. I promise you that we would have won atleast a few games." said Maina.

Justus "Jazz" Ahkwesa, who accompannied the team as an assistant coach said that standard displayed by teams in Alexandria was of high quality. "Other than Mozambique, I think Kenya were two of the smallest teams in the tournament." he said.

Kenya lost 81-49 to Nigeria in their opener and 72-58 to Congo, 39-75 to Cote d' Ivoire, 62-43 to Angola in the preliminary round matches. In the classification, they were downed 69-83 by Congo and were nipped 67-69 to Mozambique in their final game.

Immediate former Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) chairman Agina Wesonga mincing no words, took a swipe at the federation criticising them following the boys team's dissapointing performance in the championships.

Agina wonderd why KBF entered the team for the continental event yet the the juniors underwent no training at all in preparations for the ten day 12 team tournament that ended in Egypt over the weekend.KBF, he charged, let the whole nation down.

The results, he said, did not come as a shock to many because the team was nt handlded well before they jetted out for the continental show where they met properly prepared opponents.

"What shocked me was the fact that even coach Maina did not know the players who were travelling upto the very last minute. What can you then expect from a scenario like this." Agina observed.

He said that the results from Alexandria where Kenya lost all its matches and ended up in the last position could have been avoided if ever the team had even a few days training sessions.They had not a single one.

"The national team should always have enough time to train if they are to do well in any continental championships. In future, he noted, only boys in form one up to three should be in the team to avoid missing out due to examinations as only one who played in the Kampala qualifiers made it." he noted.

Final Standings
1. Egypt
2. Angola
3. Nigeria
4. Senegal
5. Mali
6. Cote d' Ivoire
7. Algeria
8. Morocco
9. Central Africa Republic
10.Mozambique
11.Congo
12.Kenya

Dann OWERRE
FIBA