Dr. Aggrey prodigy sets lofty ambitions after KSSSA triumph

Moses Nalwelishie of Dr. Aggrey High School ended his first term on a high after helping his team win the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) Term One basketball games that happened at the Machakos Boys School Grounds.

The 16-year-old, who plays the shooting guard/point guard position, was instrumental in the team's triumph.

Dr. Aggrey kicked off their title hunt with a 37-17 victory over Pioneer of Central before suffering a narrow 54-53 loss at the hands of Agoro Sare.

They bounced back to winning ways with a 69-59 victory over Sigalame to cruise to the semifinals.

At this stage, they locked horns with rivals Laiser Hill, defeating them 65-58 in the electric match that went overtime.

At the final stage, the Coastal basketball giants showed Agoro Sare who is king by defeating them 56-54 to win the coveted title.

The victory saw them reclaim the title they last won in Nakuru in 2022 and book a slot in the Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Association (FEASSSA) games scheduled for August in Uganda.

At the heart of their win was Nalwelishie who was crucial in scoring several points for the side.

Now that the dust has settled on the school games, Mozzart Sport caught up with the youngster who is at home for the holidays.

He was glad that his efforts during training were finally bearing fruit.

"The games were fine. However, there was a time when we were fatigued and we lost some points to Agoro Sare. But all the same, we prayed to God and He helped us emerge victorious," he stated.

Nalwelishie, who is now in form three, was still a freshman when Dr. Aggrey first won their inaugural title in 2022 in Nakuru.

He was part of that team which eventually proceeded to FEASSSA in 2022 and 2023.

The youngster noted that over the years, he gained invaluable skills which he applied during the 2024 KSSSA nationals.

However, he noted that his main challenge was controlling his anxiety before games, unlike during training when he was calm and collected.

"During training, I perform well, but I tense up during the game. I am actively working on overcoming that mindset, constantly reminding myself that I need to play as if I were in training." he offered.

He revealed that he was doing his best to play like his mentor Kyrie Andrew Irving.

Kyrie is an American professional basketball player for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association (NBA)

"I aspire to emulate Kyrie. I thoroughly enjoy dribbling the ball, yet in competitive matches, I restrain from doing so to avoid losing possession. However, given the opportunity of an open ball and space, I confidently engage in dribbling. I have faith in my ability to handle the ball adeptly and perform up to expectations." he averred.

Coach Kevin Aran, who was full of praise for his protege.

Aran pointed out that Nalwelishie was a fast, disciplined player who could achieve whatever he wanted in life.

"He possesses remarkable shooting and scoring abilities. I have complete trust in him whenever he takes a shot. He's designated as the team's primary shooter. However, his focus on offense often leads him to neglect defense, giving only 70% effort in that aspect. Nonetheless, he remains one of the most disciplined and humble players I've encountered throughout my coaching career." Aran said.

The tactician was also pleased with the improvement in Nalwelishie's style of play, especially his defense.

He also commended him for performing well in class, noting his future is bright.

"When he joined Dr. Aggrey he was poor in defense but he has impressively improved. He also has improved academically." he disclosed.

He continued: "He strongly believes in teamwork which makes it easier for the other players to adjust at his pace. He is a complete player - hardworking, talented and fit."

The two-time KSSSA basketball champions are sharpening their claws in readiness for the FEASSSA games where they will lock horns with their fellow Kenyans; Agoro Sare and Laiser Hill.

In the girls' category, Butere Girls, Buruburu Girls, and Kaya Tiwi proceeded to the East African stage.