Ulinzi and Thunder exempted from opening week matches in revised KBF fixture

Mills’ addition boosts Morans’ qualification chances

Last season’s Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) men’s league finalists Ulinzi Warriors and Nairobi City Thunder have been exempted from the first two weekends of action as the league jumps off on Saturday13 February.

Champions Warriors have three of their key players engaged in the national team that is preparing for the second window of the Afrobasket qualifiers set for February 17 to 21 in Cameroon while losing finalists Thunder have their coach and captain Griffin Ligare engaged in the same.

The changes will now see former champions Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) headline the weekend fixtures as they host promoted side Kenyatta University (KU) at Makande in Mombasa on Saturday at 10 am in one of the two top-tier men’s ties of the day.

The other premier league match will be a repeat of the 2019 season’s playoff quarter-final as revamped Equity Bank take on Embakasi Youth (EMYBA) at Nyayo Indoor Arena from 4 pm.

In the women’s league, 2019 semifinalists University of Nairobi (UON) Dynamites will clash with their varsity arch-rivals Zetech in another repeat of a 2019 quarter-final women’s encounter. The match is scheduled for Nyayo on Saturday, 13 February at 2 pm. KPA women will also host K.U Oryx at Makande from 2 pm on the same day. Only division one and two matches will be played on Sunday, 14 February.

In the previous fixture, Thunder were set to host Umoja at Nyayo on the second day of action while the holders, Ulinzi were to take on newly-promoted side UON Terror. Six women and five men’s fixtures were set to be played on the first weekend before the changes were effected following a team managers’ meeting last weekend.

Other teams excluded from week one fixtures are Strathmore University’ Blades and Kisumu Lakeside in the men’s league while Eagle Wings, Strathmore Swords, United States International University, Storms, Riara Lady Bucks and Africa Nazarene University who replaced Masaku Sparks who have withdrawn from the league.

FIXTURES

Saturday 13 February

Men Premier League

Equity Bank vs EMYBA - Nyayo - 4 PM

KPA vs K.U Pirates - KPA - 10 AM

Women Premier League

UON Dynamites vs Zetech University - Nyayo - 2 PM

KPA vs KU Oryx - KPA - 2PM

Men Division One League

KAA vs KDF Morans - Nyayo - 8:30 AM

Blazers vs Hope - Nyayo - 10 AM

Neosasa vs Nets - Nyayo - 12 PM

Kisii Raptors vs Nebulas - Kisii University - 12 PM

Women Division League

Kisii University vs Western Delight - Kisii University - 10 AM

Sunday 14 February

Men Division One League

MAB vs Little Prince - Nyayo - 8:30 AM

NIBS vs Renegades - Nyayo - 10 AM

ANU vs Blazers - Nyayo - 12 PM

KDF Morans vs Zetech University - Nyayo - 2 PM

Women Division One League

Kisii Raptors vs Nebukas - Nyayo - 4 PM