Basketball: Onjiko Boys coach Were eyes national title in Nakuru

Onjiko Boys basketball coach Joseph Were. [Washington Onyango,Standard]

Nyanza region basketball champions Onjiko Boys are confident of doing better at the Kenya National Secondary School Term two games that kick off on Friday at Nakuru Boys High School in Nakuru County.

Onjiko who forced Maseno to bow to them at the county level are a force to reckon with in Nakuru after slaying defending champions Agoro Sare to be crowned new basketball kings of Nyanza.

Boasting of unrivalled height and sporting power of Sudanese forwards Thok Palbul and Yien Matai alongside deadly point guard Alvin Otieno, Onjiko took down every giant on its path including Siaya champions Maranda School.

Speaking ahead of the national games, Onjiko Boys Principal and basketball coach Jospeh Were believe experience, preparation and basics will matter in determining the winner in Nakuru.

Were who has 31 years of coaching basketball at the school level said he is looking forward to completing the project he started at Onjiko in 2020 when he joined the Ahero-based school.

"We started preparing in 2020 when I joined the school. The team you are seeing started in Form One and despite Covid-19, we kept preparing and training for the future. Now that we are here, you have seen the limits of the boys."

"Our target at the national level is to win. It may be our first time but the game of basketball will remain the same and we plan to play better than our opponents do. With the experience I have, I believe we can win," said the former Kamusinga and Sigalame basketball coach.

Were added that it will all come down to mental strength, playing good defense and utilizing their height power.

"Onjiko's journey to the top is not finished yet. We don't want it to be known that we did not only conquer Nyanza games but also nationals and East Africa," said Were.

Onjiko are in Group A alongside Dagoretti and Friends School Kamusinga.