Team set for Dar es Salam

By  Erick Ochieng’

Team captain Silalei Owuor is optimistic that Kenya will perform well at the forthcoming Africa Zone Five Basketball Championships that starts in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, this weekend.

She believes Kenya have since rectified the mistakes that saw them lose to hosts Rwanda in the same championship in 2011.

Among the training the  forward says they have covered at the camp at the Nyayo National Stadium includes defence, rebounds, transitions, half offence and drill tactics which she believes are key basketball   basics that Kenya lacked two years ago in Kigali.

She is also impressed with the coaching staff, who are going beyond the technical purview.

Owuor, who joined the women’s national champion Eagle Wings three years ago from United States of America’s Messiah University where she played in the College’s Division Three league, does not believe Kenya will be affected by the non-residential training that the team has been subjected to due to limited funds.

In fact, she is amazed by the way Kenyan players are  dedicated despite the limited resources to further their basketball careers, unlike the US where there are so many opportunities to earn basketball scholarships and funds for residential trainings.

“Despite the financial setbacks, we are in great spirit. The players are encouraging each other on and off the pitch. Even though there is tight competition for slots, there is no wickedness among the players and so far none has been injured,” says Owuor, who is being assisted by Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) Most Valuable Player Hilda Indasi to captain the team.

“There is great chemistry. The players, too, are mature and disciplined with the training. I believe these are some of the virtues that will take us far in our next quest for glory,” says Owuor, who hopes that the final selection for the team that depart to Tanzania on Saturday will be fair.

One at a time

Owuor also hopes the team selected will be competent and all players will be contented with the selection even those who fails to make it to the final squad.

When asked if she believes Kenya will qualify for the Fiba Africa Nations Cup due to be staged in the Democratic Republic of Congo in September, Owuor says they are taking one task at a time and so the focus now is to deal with the Zone Five championship, that is if they win will propel them to the continental level.

Owuor has a piece of advice for the KBF to give emphasis to the establishment of youth structures to help with the development of basketball fundamentals the same way US does.

She says it’s an honour to carry the name of the country on her shoulder as the team captain and will use her leadership skills and abilities in the position to bring the country glory in Tanzania.

It’s the third time Owuor is earning a call-up in the national team since she joined the local league in 2010.