Kenya Morans focus on next month’s qualifying round ties

The national men basketball Morans Preston Bungei during evening training season at Nyayo stadium on November 12, 2020 ahead of the upcoming Afrobasket qualifiers set to take place in Kigali, Rwanda from 25th to 29th November 2020. [Stafford Ondego, Standard]

Kenya’s basketball team, Morans, resume preparations tomorrow ahead of the FIBA Africa Afro-Basket qualifiers second window set for February 19-21.

FIBA is yet to announce the hosting nation, but Senegal, Angola and Mozambique showed interest in hosting the championships by bidding for the event.

Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) assistant secretary Ambrose Kisoi said the players have undergone a Covid-19 test and are expected to assemble at Nyayo Stadium gymnasium for training.

“We have reached out to players but all depends on their availability. There will also be additional players to boost the squad. We have already made arrangements for the overseas players to join the team,” said Kisoi. 

Kenya had a tough time during the first round of the qualifiers in Kigali winning one match against Mozambique (79-62) in group B and lost to Angola and Senegal.

The national men basketball team Morans training at Nyayo stadium on November 12, 2020 ahead of the upcoming Afrobasket qualifiers set to take place in Kigali, Rwanda from 25th to 29th November 2020. [Stafford Ondego, Standard]

Among those called up are; Preston Bungei, Ronnie Gundo, Tylor Okari, Desmond Owili, Fahim Juma, Bush Wamukota, Valentine Nyakinda of KPA, Fidel Okoth, Algeria-based Airel Okal, Victor Bosire and Eric Mutoro.

USA-based centre Fred Odhiambo has also been called up for the preparations.

Odhiambo, a student at Georgia Southern University, will join the squad that did duty at the first window in Kigali, Rwanda November.

The federation is also seeking France-based forward Joel Awich.