Thunder begin title hunt against Lakeside

Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) 2019 men’s league finalists Nairobi City Thunder begin their title hunt with a clash against 2019 quarter-finalists Kisumu Lakeside in a match scheduled for Saturday, 6 March from noon at the Nyayo Indoor Arena.

Griffin Ligare will headline the Thunder squad that has lost some key players in the run-up to the 2021 season with others unavailable due to injury. 

The Sadat-Gaya coached side is without the services of Kelvin Chogo who is recovering from a leg injury sustained during the 2019 playoff final and is also away on a work-related assignment.

Defensive player Shem Omuta and trey master Faheem Juma have decamped to Equity Bank while Fidel Muga left for coastal side Kenya Ports Authority (KPA). 

"I have been away with the national team and that meant I had little time to concentrate on club assignment. We have had no pre-season training but I know we will catch up as the season unfolds as most of the players have been training on their own. We still have a bulk of the 2019 squad and have signed four new players. I am hopeful that they will play well in the opening fixtures then we can work on any weaknesses from here on," said Gaya. 

Meanwhile, Lakeside have revamped their squad and will have KPA's Bryan Ocholla, Kenyatta University (K.U) Pirates' Marko Odhiambo, George Collins, Jayden Simiyu and Allan Kibira who were turning up for Kisumu-based University sides. 

Additionally, the Safarilink Aviation sponsored-side will enjoy the services of former Katherine College- San Diego star, Joshua Carter, who joined the outfit ahead of the cancelled 2020 season. 

Carter joins Lakeside from Barcelona where he was plying his trade for Club Basquét Sitges after clearing college. 

For their first away trip to Nairobi, Lakeside will miss the services of veteran players Tim Adede, Isaiah Kiyaka, Denis Wekesa and new signings Carter and Kibira who have work-related engagements.

"Ahead of the new season, we lost the services of Sandra Arnold who went back to Spain, and youngster Ricky Omondi who earned a scholarship to the US, Dickton Ogada who joined K.U and Dismass Oketch who decamped to Kisii University," team manager George Onassis revealed. 

He continued, "We are up against experienced sides this weekend but we have had an all-inclusive training ahead of the season opener and I believe the players will do well. Thunder are led by the national team point guard Ligare and that goes to show the kind of experience and aggressiveness we are up against. However, we have trained on how to stop their plays in attack and minimize shooting outside the arch while up against Thunder. We have a young team that can achieve that." 

In other premier league matches of the day, promoted University of Nairobi (UoN) Terror open the season against Embakasi Youth Basketball Association (EMYBA). The latter are looking to redeem themselves having gone down to KPA in their season opener two weeks ago. Men's league champions Ulinzi Warriors take on Umoja in another match. 

The only women's top tier league match will see Storms Battle with promoted Kisumu Lady Bucks. 

Saturday 6th March 2021

Nyayo (Premier League)

10.00 am Storms Vs Kisumu Lady Bucks (Women)

12.00 nn Thunder Vs Lakeside (Men)

2.00 pm Terror Vs EMYBA (Men)

4.00pm Ulinzi Vs Umoja (Men)

Moran Lounge

Division one league

8.30am FEBA Vs Nakuru Club (Men)

10.00 am Mustang Vs Shoot 4 Life (Men)

12.00 nn Neosasa Vs Little Prince (Men)

2.00 pm World Hope Vs Zetech Uni (Men)