Akoyi sets sight on KBF premier league return

Point guard Elvis Akoyi has put his disappointing 2019 season behind him and is looking to rise above that setback for another shot at top tier league action. 

Akoyi joined Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) Morans in 2019 and had high hopes of helping the team gain promotion to the Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) premier league, a target he is still holding as the 2021 league takes shape. 

The former Musingu high school player who ditched rugby interests for basketball in school joined the Ulinzi team from his first club Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), joining Ulinzi Warriors in the 2014/15 season. 

In his first season with the military side, the William Balozi-coached side lifted the title. Akoyi left for his military training immediately after that, returning for the 2017 and 2018 campaigns that were not as successful as his first. 

"After the two seasons with Warriors, I joined KDF Morans, then under coach Moses Shida and we had set our target on gaining promotion then. We had a shaky regular season, finishing seventh, but ended up being ranked eighth. Our elimination in the playoff quarters was one of my most painful losses. We had high hopes of reaching the final which would have given us a ticket to the premier league," Akoyi reminisces. 

KDF Morans faced Kenyatta University Pirates in the playoff quarters losing 2-1 giving the students a chance at the semis and eventually the final to gain promotion. In the decider Game Three of the quarters, Morans came from a 14-point deficit, a 18-4 scoreline at the end of the first quarter, to take the match to the wire, losing 65-62 in the end. 

"That loss was painful. Missing Stephan Simuyu affected the team chemistry in the regular season but we got our act together and won Game One. Pirates won Game Two and things came down to the decider match. We had lost by half a basket to K.U in the regular season and we knew we could win the quarters. It was a huge setback but we are coming back stronger," said Akoyi. 

Simiyu targets premier league promotion with KDF Morans

Morans have welcomed back Simiyu to the side, having undergone treatment for Pulmonary Embolism and cleared to get back on the court. Additionally, the Esther Butali-coached side made several additions to the team ahead of the 2021 season, bringing in Brian Omondi and Douglas Kivati as well as Brans Nzioka, who is returning from military training, for their division one title campaign. 

"We are happy to have Simiyu's energy back. He had been promoted to Warriors for the 2019 season but he unfortunately fell ill. I am happy he is back and I believe in our chemistry. Ours is as good as Steph Curry and Klay Thompson's for Golden State Warriors. The rest of the new signings have also added to our depth. Our target for the season is qualify for the playoffs then work on clinching the title and gaining promotion to the top tier league," offered Akoyi. 

Morans are currently third on the men's division one log at eight points from three wins and two losses. Their losses have come in the hands of top of the table Blazers and second-placed Zetech University, both by half a basket. 

"I am working on myself. Coach Balozi had me drop down to division one to work on a few things that I needed to improve on with a possibility of getting back to Warriors. However, qualifying for the premier league with the team is my target," Akoyi concluded.