The national U 18 boys and girls teams will participate in the Fiba Africa championships, a top official has disclosed.Vitalis Gode the Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) secretary told the Star that the teams will start training this weekend at different venues ahead of the tournament slated for Egypt and Rwanda. "The teams will take part in the two championships as we have got an assurance from the government." Gode said adding that what KBF is looking for is the money to assemble the two teams for serious training.
The girls will travel to Cairo for the 11th edition of the junior tournament that throws off July 29 to August 6. Defending champions Mali, host Egypt, Nigeria, Mozambique, Tunisia, Angola, Cote d Ivoire, Congo DRC and Senegal.
The boys on the other hand will travel to Kigali next month. Gode said that KBF have named Shimba Hills tactician Philip Onyango and David Maina of St Austins to handle the sides. The same coaches were in charge during the last show.
Kenya teams booked direct tickets to the championships as a result of regional teams pull out of the Zone Five qualifiers earlier scheduled for April due to varied reasons.
Burundi, Uganda, Tanzania, Eritrea, Somalia and Ethiopia all withdrew from the five day tournament earning Kenya direct tickets in both the categories as the only contestants. International referee Juma Kent will accompany the girls team.
In a related development, 17 clubs have so far confirmed entry in the regional club championships that will be staged in Bujumbura, Burundi next month.
Gode, who is also the Zone Five secretary, said that Kenya will be represented by four teams led by defending champions Kenya Ports Authority and Co-operative Bank of Kenya. The other two to fly the flag are national champions KCB Lions and Eagle Wings.
The event will tip off in Bujumbura from August 16-27 and will have four teams each from Uganda, Rwanda and host nation while Tanzania will have one club. Kampala hosted the last championships with a record 19 teams entry.
"So far the entry is very impressive. Wings are the only team to have registered their participation but we expect the rest to follow suit in due course." said Gode.