Kenya - Withdrawal of teams a big blow to basketball league

From: allafrica.com
View source article here.
By Philip Onyango

The last-minute withdrawal of top teams from the National Classic basketball league and the beating KCB Lions and Kenya Ports Authority received at international basketball tournaments crowned an eventful basketball season in 2006.

After finishing fourth in last year's Africa women's basketball championships in Senegal, KPA finished a poor tenth at the 2006 games that featured 12 teams.

 
KCB Lions also took part in the African club championships in Nigeria and finished a poor last. KPA had the oldest players in Gabon, failing to match the speed of their younger and swifter opponents.

KPA head coach Sammy Wanjohi said the oldest player on the Premiero de Agosto team, which won the championship, was 23 while the rest of the players, mainly schoolgirls and university students, averaged 18. The KPA average age was 26.

"KPA should start developing their own players right from the youth, especially the backcourt players, if such an embarrassment is to be avoided in future," he said.

Lack of a point guard to replace Rose Ouma, who left for the US on a basketball scholarship, exposed the team.

Similar sentiments were expressed by KBF chairman Agina Wasonga, who wants KPA to have a permanent team of quality players instead of the last minute rush to recruit new players whenever there are major international tournaments.

Owino wants KCB men to consider recruiting players with the right mass and height if they are to make an impression.

"Taking eight guards to Nigeria for a continental championships was a big joke," he said.

Still on the international scene, Kenya under 20 basketball team finished third at the ANOCA games in Nairobi after losing at the semi finals stage to Rwanda.

The National men and women basketball teams, programmed to travel to Rwanda for the All Africa Games zone five qualifications, had their tournament postponed at the eleventh hour by Fiba Africa but had a consolation in playing friendly matches with Rwanda.

On the local scene, the withdrawal of Kenya Railways and KCB Lioness women's teams and Sprite Stormers and Postbank men's teams watered down the leagues. Telkom Kenya women team caused the biggest upset, beating KPA women to reclaim the title they last won three years ago.

With only six players available after KPA grabbed Caroline Arato, Mwajuma Suleiman, and Caroline Mireji just before the playoffs, Telkom kept their cool to win the women's title 2-1 after losing to KPA game one in Mombasa.

Newcomers Yana Milele made their presence felt, making it to the semi-finals on their first attempt.

Ulinzi Warriors made history by becoming the first men's team to win the league four years in a row after they beat Co-operative Bank 2-0 in the final.
 
After losing by a narrow four points in the first leg, Co-op Bank, which had improved greatly after the return of coach Smarts Olumbo, failed to tame the soldiers who carried the day with a half a basket in game two.

Kisumu Lakeside and Java Warriors men's teams were promoted to the national Classic League.

Also booking their ticket to the national league was Catholic Dream Team women's team, which beat Predators 2-1 in the final, and Kisumu Ladies under coaches Peter Ochara and Wilkister Akinyi.