L. MathekaHerculean task for KPA in quest for BAL elite 16 qualification
Reading Time: 4min | Sun. 01.10.23. | 10:28
The side will play three other teams in Dar es Salaam for the sole ticket to the next round
Kenya basketball champions Kenya sports Authority (KPA) head to Tanzania's coastal city, Dar es Salaam from 19 to 21 October with eyes firmly set on clinching the single slot reserved for the winner of group C to the Basketball Africa League (BAL) elite 16.
The first qualifying phase for the 2024 BAL, which is the fourth edition of the premier African club competition has pitted the Sammy Kiki-led team against hosts Pazi BBC, Dynamo BBC of Burundi and Sebeta City of Ethiopia.
KPA are making a third appearance in the Road to BAL qualifiers. At the inaugural edition held in 2019, KPA got their campaign off in style winning all their four matches to finish top in the preliminary stage and earned a ticket to the Elite 16 in Kigali.
The dockers defeated Ferroviaro de Maputo of Mozambique 79-67 and Cobra Sport of South Sudan 83-53 but bowed out in the group stage, having missed their opening fixture against City Oilers of Uganda.
KPA made a return for the 2022 edition, booking an Elite 16 place after beating Djabal Basket Iconi (Comoros) 120-37 before losing 66-60 to hosts Club Omnisports de la Police (COSPN) in the qualifiers held in Antananarivo.
The Elite 16 hosted in Johannesburg saw the dockers go winless to exit the competition in the group stage.
The side is yet to reveal their squad for the upcoming assignment but coach Kiki has hinted at signing some of Kenya’s best talents with league Most Valuable Player (MVP) Eugene Adera and his national team compatriot Job Byron who have been KPA's driving force in dominating the local scene key for the tactician.
#Urunani ruhejeje gutangaza ko rutanze #Joe Guibert NIJIMBERE muri #Dynamo BBC hamwe na #Landry NDIKUMANA muri #Pazi BC yo muri Tanzanie.#basketball #agaciro #abatwip pic.twitter.com/aiaRTj84hK
— Douglas reporter (@deohezu) September 25, 2023
Kiki's men begin their hunt in Dar es Salaam against Dynamo BBC. The Robert Mugabe-coached side will be making a return to the continental competition, having made an appearance in the qualifiers to the inaugural edition held in 2021.
The Kenyan-born tactician has bolstered his squad with the acquisition of South Sudanese forward David ‘Dekong’ Deng who featured for Cobra in the 2021 and 2022 editions of BAL. Nigerian teenage sensation Israel Otobo who was part of the national team in their quest for World Cup qualification earlier in the year adds to Dynamo’s versatile squad that also boasts the experienced Alvin Ninziza who captained the side to the 2022/23 national title.
Next up for KPA will be Daniel Worku’s, Ethiopian champions Sebeta City who are making their debut in BAL. Worku will rely heavily on his skipper Firafis Wogari. The shooting guard is the star of the team and alongside point guard Lionel Wolde, they will be expected to marshal the floor. The side also has experienced Kenyan international Evans Leting who brings a wealth of experience as does his fellow forward Ochan Ojulu.
KPA will then take on new-look Pazi BBC, the 2022 Tanzanian champions who are also making their debut in the continental showpiece.
Pazi have bolstered their squad with some experienced names as they look to advance to the next round. Former NBA player and home boy Hasheem Thabeet is one of Pazi’s biggest acquisitions for the upcoming assignment.
The 36-year-old who joined NBA in 2009 after being drafted by Memphis Grizzlies and went on to feature for Houston Rockets, Portland Trailblazers and Oklahoma City brings a wealth of experience for the first timers.
The side has also acquired the services of highly-sought-after guard Dhieu Deing who was part of the African team in this year’s 2023 GLOBL JAM tournament played in July and represented Cape Town Tigers in the last Road to BAL edition.
Landry Ndikumana who has played for City Oiler of Uganda (2019), Burundi’s New Star (2021) and Urunani (2022) in the last three editions of the Road to BAL also adds to the side’s depth as they host the competition.
Group C, East Division (October 19-21-Dar es Salaam, Tanzania)
Fixtures
October 19
Pazi BBC vs. Sebeta City
KPA vs. Dynamo
October 20
Dynamo vs. Pazi BBC
Sebeta City vs. KPA
October 21
Pazi BBC vs. KPA
Dynamo vs. Sebeta City
