KPA’s participation at Fiba event hangs in the balance

Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) men and women basketball teams’ participation at the Federation of International Basketball Association (Fiba) Africa Zone V Club championships in Kampala, Uganda hangs in the balance as they are yet to be cleared by the office of the president.

Authority’s Sports Officer Lenox Safari confirmed yesterday that despite having been training diligently for the event, their traveling to Uganda is uncertain due to technical hitches.

“As per the government directive last week, all government and parastatal officers must get clearance from the president. We are officers at KPA and we cannot travel unless we are cleared,” said Safari.

“The tournament starts on Sunday and we need to be out of the country by latest Friday (tomorrow) failure to which, we shall miss the event,” added Safari.

KPA women will be defending the Zone V Club Championships title they won last year in Dar es Salaam. Other Kenyan teams are women champions Equity and Ulinzi.

“We have camped at Young Men Christian Association (YMCA) Shauri Moyo Nairobi to adequately prepare for the Uganda event,” said KPA women head coach Anthony Ojukwu.

He added that his unbeaten team is keen to maintain the streak this season in the Premier League and intends to extend the good run to Uganda.

“We are fresh from retaining Kecoso women basketball title and we are looking forward to a good show in Kampala for all the players are in top form,” added Ojukwu who will be deputised by experienced coach Philip Onyango.

The Uganda regional club competition attracts the League champion teams from Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Burundi and Egypt.