Kenyan teams may miss Inter-Cities tourney in Kampala

By Erick Ochieng’

Kenya may not participate in the 15th edition of the Inter-cities Basketball championships that begins in Kampala, Uganda, on Monday due to lack of funds.

Kenya’s representatives at the event Nairobi and Mombasa cities are yet to get sponsorship to cater for the championships logistics. Nairobi has resolved to take only the women’s team to defend the title, but this dream too might not come true since Nairobi Basketball Association (NBA) is yet to get sponsors.

 “We have not been successful in our search for sponsors. All we have received is Sh15,000 from Alsa Basketball. We have informed the Sports ministry about our predicament but unfortunately the response is not positive. We are now mobilising friends and well-wishers for contributions,” Nairobi City head coach Sylvia Kamau told FeverPitch.

However, Nairobi City continue to train at the Railway Club, hoping that sponsorship will come their way.

 “We are currently sharpening our skills on transition and shootings,” said Kamau. Currently, Nairobi City has 14 players who are training at the Railway Club base, eight of whom are in the national team. The players are battling for a place in the final squad to be named by coach Kamau tomorrow.

According to the team’s head of delegation, Dan O’Were, Nairobi might not take the required 12 players to Kampala owing to lack of funds.

  Nairobi, who will be looking for a 14th title in this year’s edition, plans to depart on Monday for the regional tournament that ends on Friday.

Other technical bench members to accompany the team include Trezer Opudo as team manager and Carol Ouma, who is Kamau’s assistant.

Last week, Mombasa Basketball Association officials announced they have shelved the idea of Inter-cities since the federation used its funds to offset funeral expenses of their members who died in a road accident on their way to officiate college games in Murang’a.

Meanwhile, national women’s team head coach Ronny Owino is glad most of the national team players have been called up to represent Nairobi in Kampala.

He said this would give the players good exposure ahead of Africa championships in Maputo, Mozambique on September 23-30.

Owino plans to beef up the national team squad with six foreign-based players to add impact to the squad.

Elsewhere, Kenya Basketball Federation league fixtures return to Nyayo Stadium and Menengai High School.