USIU hope to shine in Zone V Clubs Championships

Cynthia Idankunda (right) of USIU Flames dribbles the ball against Lucy Ohanga (left) of KPA during their Kenya Basketball Federation national league match at the KPA Makande GYM, June 201, 2016. USIU Flames who are the current league champions, lost 57-83. [PHOTO BY GIDEON MAUNDU/STANDAARD].

The United States International University(USIU) team departs today for the 2016 Fiba Africa Zone V Clubs Basketball Championships that gets underway in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania on Saturday.

The USIU men are hopeful to better the third place finish they registered in the championship three years ago when they made their debut in Burundi.

Since then, things have not been rosy for the team that has missed the championship for the last two years owing to their lackluster performance in the Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) Premier League.

However, they have shown resilience in the game lately and this was inspired by their runners up finish in the KBF league behind Ulinzi last season.

Head coach George Mayienga admits inexperience cost them the regional title in Burundi and it’s the reason he has blended the team well with experienced players ahead of the Dar event.

“We have trained and worked on our techniques well and I am hopeful the same will be replicated on the pitch in Dar,” noted Mayienga.

Elsewhere, Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) women basketball team concluded their training yesterday before they depart for Dar-es-Salaam for the same assignment.

KPA's Sports Officer Lenny Safari confirmed that 12 players accompanied by eight officials leave by road to Dar-es-salaam. He added that the contingent will also have a referee and representative from Kenya Basketball Federation.

KPA are unbeaten in the national Classic women Premier League and want to extend the good run to Tanzania during the Fiba Club championships.

Other teams that have confirmed participation include City Oilers, Uganda Christian University (men and women) as well as Kampala City Council Authority—all from Uganda. Espoir and Patriots will represent Rwanda while Ubume fly Burundi’s flag. The other teams will be drawn from South Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Egypt, Sudan and host Tanzania.