Morans return to hero’s welcome after Mali duty

Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko (centre) with Kenya's national basketball team, The Morans, yesterday in Nairobi [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

History-making Kenya Morans yesterday returned to a hero’s welcome from Bamako, Mali where they finished second in the inaugural FIBA AfroCan basketball tournament.

Winning a continental silver medal was a huge achievement for the Kenyans who had never excelled in the sport on the international scene.  

Kenya lost 82-61 to the Democratic Republic of Congo in the final to settle for silver even as two of the team’s starting five made the AfroCan all-stars list.

Morans were yesterday treated to a warm reception upon their arrival at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

Business came to a standstill at the usually busy airport as isukuti dancers stole the show.

Principal Secretary for Sports Kirimi Kaberia and Commissioner of Sports and Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) chairman Paul Otula were among those who braved the morning chill to welcome Morans.

Prayers and speeches from Otula, Kaberia and AfroCan top scorer Tyler Ongwae Okari followed before the Africa Zone Five winners boarded branded trucks as they made their way into Nairobi’s Central Business District.

Not even heavy traffic could deter Morans’ celebrations. They had just bagged the elusive medal for the first time in almost 30 years.

Kenya came close to being on the podium when they finished fourth at the Fiba AfroBasket in 1993 and at the 1987 African Games.

Otula lauded the government and sponsors including Badoer Investment who kitted Morans and have sponsored KBF with a five-year deal worth Sh100 million.

He said God had been with the Morans throughout before adding; “Were it not for Him, we would not be celebrating.”  

Kaberia said the government fully supports the team.

“We will continue to support Morans.

“We can now talk of Harambee Stars going to Africa Cup of Nations, Chipu (Kenya’s Under-20 rugby team) was recently in Brazil where they did us proud, Safari Rally is coming up, and now basketball,” said Kaberia.

He admitted that the government cannot support sports on its own, as he praised Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko for being at the forefront of supporting sports and challenged other governors and sponsors to follow suit.

“Without their help, the government cannot be able to sponsor all our teams with everything they need,” Kaberia said.  

From JKIA, the team was hosted to breakfast by Sonko at his City Hall office before they headed to Carnivore Saloon for lunch courtesy of Badoer Investment and Nairobi County government.

Sonko also gave the Morans a token of Sh1 million.