Road to BAL: Tylor Ongwae opens up on targets with Thunder
Reading Time: 3min | Tue. 15.10.24. | 09:53
The undefeated Kenyan champions are looking to become the first Kenyan team to go past the Elite 16
Road to BAL (Basketball Africa League) East Division qualifiers begin on Wednesday 16 October with Kenyan basketball champions Nairobi City Thunder facing four other teams in Kibaha, Tanzania.
The Brad Ibs-coached side has recruited heavily with Kenya Morans forward Tylor Ongwae headlining a list of star players that has other Kenyan international and foreign imports.
This is the first time 33-year-old Ongwae, who until June 2024 played in the German top-tier league for Niners Chemnitz, is featuring for a Kenyan league as he says his journey with the undefeated champions does not end after the African competition.
The journey to greatness starts here! 🇰🇪
— Tenthman (@BernetOjay) October 12, 2024
Nairobi City Thunder is stepping into The Road to BAL with the heart, fire, and pride of a nation behind us. This isn’t just about a game—it’s about putting Kenya on the global basketball map. Let’s make history together!⚡️#RTB #ThunderUP pic.twitter.com/k3EzdWcwPy
His talks with Thunder began before he joined the German side, he reveals.
"I am adjusting well. We are building something good and I am happy to be part of it. There has not been a lot of changes for me as basketball is the same everywhere. I settled in well and we are ready to go all the way to BAL," said Ongwae who says he is happy to be playing at home, adding that he would wish to retire here.
The former Bakken Bears forward admits that, Thunder’s professionalism and, a chance to play the Road to BAL and qualify with a Kenyan team were a major part of his decision to sign for the team.
"Thunder are doing everything right. They are more professional than some of the teams I have featured for elsewhere and that gives me motivation to be here and change our basketball story for the better," he told Mozzart Sport.
Ibs charges go up against Beau Vallon Heat of Seychelles in the opening match of the 5-team competition at Filbert Bayi Schools, Kibaha before facing off with Urunani of Burundi, Madagascar's GNBC and hosts JKT.
The FIBA Europe Cup champion with his Germany side is no stranger to BAL, having featured for Liz Mills-coached Ivorian side ABC Fighters in the 2023 playoff quarters in Rwanda, falling 88-84 to Petro de Luanda.
"With this experience, my role is simply to work hard and motivate every teammate towards qualification. We also have our guard Uchenna Iroegbu who has been on that platform before, having played with Guinean side SLAC in the BAL semis ( Nile Conference) last year. His experience has proved instrumental in our preparations," Ongwae adds.
Asked which of the four sides are likely to pose a big challenge for Thunder in their quest to qualify for the Elite 16 slated for Johannesburg, South Africa from 12 November, the two-time Defender of the Year in the Denmark league with Bakken Bears said they would not underrate anyone as they are out to emerge top.
"It would mean so much to us and to Kenyan basketball should we qualify for BAL. Besides qualification, we want to give the young ballers something to play for and with BAL opening doors for many African players, this is our chance to lead the way for the Kenyan youth," he concluded.
