Wafula emphasizes commitment as 29 are named for AfroCAN assignment

Assistant coach and former Kenya International Ancet Wafula who will deputise Cliff Owuor in the second edition of the FIBA Africa-organised AfroCAN has called on all 29 called up to Kenya Morans to show commitment.

The tactician who takes charge of training alongside fellow assistant Collins Gaya until the arrival of the Rwandese-based head coach says cutting down the list will largely bank on players showing up for training.

“Training gets underway this weekend and we will have four weeks to name the final squad. All those called up have the potential to make the final team but the first determinant early on will be their commitment to training.

We need to get moving with training so availability of players for the sessions is key. The dropping of players will begin as early as next week so we call on all to be ready for the assignment ahead,” he offered. 

Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF), on Friday 9 June, named a 29-man provisional squad that gets into non-residential training on 10 June ahead of the continental tournament set for 8 to 16 July.

Kenya Morans will be playing the continental tournament for the second time, having directly qualified after being finalists in the inaugural edition in 2019. The tournament seeks to encourage and develop players who play in leagues within Africa.

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Being a reserve of local-based players 20 of the 29 players are drawn from the local league led by skipper Griffin Ligare and his deputy Eric Mutoro. The selections panel has also handed a few players their first call ups with the Kenyatta University Pirates duo of Dolphine Otieno and Ivan Mombiru leading the charge.

Also making their debut on the call up list are Ariel Ortega who guided USIU Tiger to a successful Division One title charge and promotion back to the top-tier league.

Nairobi City Thunder’s Dismas Mbaku, Ulinzi Snippers’ Brans Nzioka, Africa Nazarene’s Paul Raburu and Stanbic Bank’s Joseph Gitau are some of the other debutants who will be vying for places against seasoned national team players.

 Players from the Kenyan Premier league

1. Victor Bosire-Captain- Equity Bank

2. Eugene Adera- Kenya Ports Authority

3. Dolphine Otieno- Kenyatta University

4. Siaji Davies-Unattached

5. Eric Mutoro- Ulinzi Warriors

6. Ariel Ortega- USIU Tigers

7. Dennis Koja- Strathmore University

8. Griffin Ligare- Nairobi City Thunder

9. Dismass Mbaku- Nairobi City Thunder

10. James Mwangi- Equity Bank Dumas

11. Brans Nzioka – Ulinzi Snipers

12. Kennedy Wachira- Unattached

13. Lennox Wanje- KPA Dockers

14. Job Byron- KPA Dockers

15. Brian Shivachi- KPA Dockers

16. Paul Raburu- African Nazarene University

17.Ivan Ombiru – Kenyatta University

18. Joseph Gitau- Stanbic Bank

19. Victor Ochieng- Equity Bank Dumas

 Kenyan Players playing in other Leagues

1. Derrick  Ogechi Minnesota, USA

2. Devyne Marble- Detroit USA

3. Ariel Okal- Dynamo Burundi

4. Fidel Okoth- Oman

5. Bush Wamukota – APR Rwanda

6. Paul Ereng- Burundi

7. Peter Sifuma- UCU Uganda

8. Ronnie Gundo- Unattached

9. Albert Odero – Unattached

10. Tylor Ongwae- ABC (Ivory Coast)