Dr Aggrey ready to retain national basketball title

Dr Aggrey from coast in action against Dogoretti from Nairobi in the boys basketball finals during the National Secondary school games at Nakuru High school.[Kipsang Joseph,Standard]

Coast region teams left Mombasa beaming with confidence ahead of the National Secondary School Term One games that starts on Tuesday to Saturday in Eldoret.

Hill School and Moi Girls School will co-host the games that include basketball, handball, hockey, rugby 15s, athletics and swimming.

The contingent is led by the two reigning national boys and girls basketball champions Dr Aggrey and Kaya Tiwi of Taita Taveta and Kwale counties respectively.

The Coast teams alongside other regions will be fighting for slots to the East Africa games slated for August in Kigali, Rwanda.

As the champions embark on their tasks of defending their respective titles, Dr Aggrey has issued a stern warning to their opponents ahead of games.

The champions have been actively participating in the Mombasa County Basketball League and the boys under coach Kevin Maima are confident of defending the national title they won last year in Nakuru in their debut.

The Wundanyi Sub-county based team last weekend qualified for the final of Mombasa league after beating Burukly 80-49 in their second semi final series. They will play the winner between Voi Heats and Congo Nets who are tired 1-1 after the former won the second series 57-48

"We are getting better each day. It is a matter of getting going at the national games," said team captain Tong Machuach.

Dr Aggrey's latest triumph in school games was a fortnight ago when they won the Coast region title during the games held in Kwale County.

Coach Maima said his players have been scintillating in their recent performances and much is expected from the team at the national games.

"Our good performance I think comes down to a few things: good leadership, good coaching and having the right players to finish the job," said the youthful coach

The coach said he has a young and determined dynamic team, which is yet to show its full strength.

"We are prepared for the nationals. The boys are training hard and they are motivated. We are in a tough pool but we shall take each game seriously because every win counts," said Maima.

He said his team has been pooled in a strong group but that won't stop them from retaining the title.

"We know our opponents are strong but we shall unleash our ammunition when the right time comes," added the coach saying they have set their sight to the East Africa title that has remained elusive to Kenyan teams for many years.

The champions have been drawn against former champions Laiser Hill of Rift Valley, Nyanza's new kings Onjiko and Wajir Boys from North Eastern.

But Maima said the boys are psyched up and he will heavily bank on the towering captain Makuach, dribbler Peter Ouma and Collins Maina among other players.