Abdulrahman Sheriff
27 June 2011
Nairobi — Kenyan coaches are happy with the draws for the women’s basketball event for the All Africa Games which take place in Maputo, Mozambique, from September 3-18.
National women’s coach Cliff Owuor and his assistant Philip Onyango on Monday said the draw was fair and that, with good preparations, it gives the country a chance to reach the final stages of the championships.
“We have analysed this draw with head coach Cliff Owuor and we both feel it gives us an almost automatic qualification to the quarter-finals with good preparations,” Mombasa Sports Club coach Onyango, who will assist his Rwandan club APR counterpart Owuor in preparing the team for the games, said.
Kenya are in Group A alongside hosts Mozambique, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe, Algeria and Nigeria.
Teams are beatable
Onyango said under his tutelage Kenya has recorded excellent results against Nigeria and DRC in the Afro Basket Championships, making him believe the two otherwise respected basketball playing nations are beatable.
“We will not have an excuse if we go down to either Zimbabwe or Algeria, although our main target is to beat everyone in the group and emerge tops.”
The draws, held in Mali’s capital city Bamako on Saturday, has champions Senegal, Cameroon, Angola, Rwanda, Cote d’Ivoire and Mali in Group B.
The Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) has at the same time released the names of the national team players for the games who are expected to start training on July 15.
All Africa Games women’s basketball team
Locally based: Silalei Agalo, Caroline Achieng, Samba Mjomba and Angela Akoth (Eagle Wings), Lorraine Akinyi, Purity Auma, Brenda Mbone (Uganda Christian University), Faith Owich, Denise Apondi, Grace Wanjiku (Strathmore University), Brenda Angeshi and Helen Oketch (KPA), Hilda Luvandwa (USIU), Vilma Achieng (Asumbi Teachers College), Mercine Milimu (Kenyatta University), Debra Obunga (Mombasa Sports Club), Natali Akinyi (Western Delight), Mercy Wanyama (Storms), Debora Atieno and Primerose Asura (Shimba Hills Talent Academy)
Based abroad: Josephine Achieng Owino, Dorreen Minala, Beatrice Awino Oyenje, Rose Ouma, Mildred Olumasi, Judy Lulu Obiero, Anastacia Njeri
AllAfrica – All the Time
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Kenya: Draw ‘Good’ for Basketball Team