KPA out to reclaim Zone Five title in Rwanda

Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) women's league champions Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) lost the 2022 Zone Five title to Egypt's Alexandria Sporting Club (ASC).

As they head to this year’s FIBA Africa Zone Five women's club championship, slated for October 28 to November 4 in Kigali, Rwanda, coach Antony Ojukwu has exuded confidence in his side’s chances to reclaim the title and qualify for the next round.

The competition is a qualifier for the 2023 FIBA Africa Champions Cup, set to take place in Egypt between December 8 and 17. Ten women’s teams will grace the competition, led by hosts APR and Rwanda Energy Group (REG).

Other teams confirmed include Tanzania’s Vijana Queens and JKT Stars, South Sudan's Nile Legends, Uganda's newly-crowned champions, the JKL Lady Dolphins, Burundi’s Gladiators, and the Kenyan champions, KPA, alongside Equity Hawks, who took up the place of Zetech Sparks.

“We have had 11 days of residential camp in Mombasa, and I believe the team is well prepared for the task ahead. Like every other tactician, the target is to go all the way to win the title and book a place in the continental competition.

I believe the preparations we have had are sufficient and will carry us through. We expect tough competition, so we will be taking every opponent seriously as we advance through the championship,” Ojukwu told Mozzart Sport.

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In an effort to strengthen his squad, the tactician has made four additions, bringing in Kenyan international Victoria Reynolds, former docker Madina Okot, Morgan Greene, and Aminata Samassekou.

While Reynolds and Okot are no strangers to KPA and the Zone Five Competition, 18-year-old guard Aminata brings her 2022 FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup and 2021 FIBA U16 Women’s African Championship experience to the dockers.

Meanwhile, US-based forward Greene featured for Cal State East Bay, winning two championships in her time with the Pioneers, was awarded First Team ALL-CCAA in 2018, and led the CCAA in rebounds in 2017.

Traveling squad

Natalie Akinyi

Hilda Indasi

Rita Aluoch

Yvonne Atieno

Rebecca Nkatha

Victoria Reynolds

Linda Alando

Vilma Owino

Morgan Greene

Medina Okot

Aminata Samassekou

Basketball: Obilo confident Sparks will surmount Zone Five disappointment