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L. MathekaKiki wary of team's fitness as KPA prepare for league resumption
Reading Time: 2min | Sat. 11.03.23. | 15:43
The dockers had requested for exemption from league action as their management put their house in order.
Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) teams have not featured in the Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) leagues since the last weekend of January.
As they prepare to make a return next weekend, the men's team head coach Sammy Kiki says match fitness will be an area of concern as they look to qualify for the playoffs with a second leg unbeaten run.
The defending champions have played 13 matches so far, losing only once, early on in the first leg to varsity side Africa Nazarene University (ANU) Wolfpacks.
On their return, the dockers are scheduled to play University of Nairobi (UoN) Terror and Nairobi City Thunder on 18 and 19 March respectively.
"It has been a long break for the team so getting back we have to prepare well and approach the first few matches with a lot of caution.
The players have been training individually but we have not had a chance to meet for training as a group. When we get together, I will have to access where the players are individually then embark on a plan for the nine matches," Kiki offered.
The tactician is, however, confident that after the first weekend, the team will have gained some momentum.
"We will ride on that after the weekend and keep getting better ahead of the playoffs. There might be some fixture congestion as we are behind other teams but we will work around it and ensure we finish the regular season top of the table," Kiki added.
Currently, former champions Ulinzi Warriors lead the standings, with two matches to the conclusion of their regular season, on 36 points.
Equity Dumas are second on the log on 34 points having played 19 matches while Strathmore Blades, having played 21 matches are third on the log with 34 points.
