Aye! Aye! Captain Brenda Angeshi sailing into dizzying depths

She has steered the ship that is Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) women's basketball team for eight years, initially as a player. Right now, Brenda Angeshi is on a different mission. 

She stepped off her role as the Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) women champion's skipper last year to delve into coaching. 

However, as she exchanged her playing boots and puts on her coaching cap, the 36-year-old has not forgotten that she was born to be a captain. 

They say you have not lived until you have sailed; that if you have never experienced the healing power of a day spent at sea and on a sailing ship, you are missing out big time; and Angeshi, not one to miss out has chosen to dive into the deep sea of marine operations. 

Yes, she is working towards becoming the next marine pilot and a sought-after basketball tactician of international repute. 

The now KPA women's team assistant coach has taken on a massive undertaking. But if life has taught her anything, it is the will to go for what she wants. 

After working in the administrative department of the port in Mombasa, Angeshi, created an interest in Marine Operations and went for what she wanted, enrolling for a diploma in 2015. 

"Initially, I worked in the Human Resource department but in 2015 I joined the Marine Operations department. I joined Bandari College in 2015 for a four-year diploma course in Nautical Science," offered the mother of one. 

She studied while putting in the hours in sea and was soon a sailor, and that only motivated her to aim higher. Her next target, to become one of the few female Tug Masters at the Mombasa port. 

"A Tugmaster is responsible for the tug boats that help bring the ships in and out of the port. Mombasa port has no single female tugmaster and this is a big deal for those of us aiming to take up the challenge. 

We had one female Tugmaster, Maryanne Chivati, who unfortunately passed on early last year. I want to fill her shoes and inspire the next generation female marine operators." 

For a field as vast as Nautical Science, the former national team guard has her work cut out as she has a myriad of courses she has to undertake, in addition to her diploma to enable her achieve her dream of becoming a master. 

"From Standard Training Certification & Watchkeeping (STCW) courses to Global Maritime Distress &Safety System (GMDSS) as well as Coxswain training I am putting in the work to get through this so I can qualify for sea time training, which is the practical part of being a sailor, Tugmaster or even a Captain. 

I also need to get more training in neighbouring Tanzania so as to qualify for my Certificates of Competency (CoC) that will license me to work on ocean-going vessels. The journey had begun in earnest but Covid-19 interruption slowed down my timeliness, as most colleges closed down, but I am back with the dream." 

For Angeshi, the dream does not stop at tug boats, her vision is to, one day, join trendsetters like Elizabeth Marami, Kenya's first female marine pilot, on the cockpit. 

"She (Marami) is an inspiration to me and that is my long term plan. I have been given the platform as I am guaranteed of sea time if and when my qualifications warrant that. The ball is on my court and there is no limit as to what I can achieve. This keeps me motivated to work towards my dream." 

Back on the court, Angeshi's ambitions are equally big but one thing is clear, her love for the dockers is unquestionable. 

"I would love to coach any men's or women's team participating in the premier league in the near future. My short term goal, however, remains working under Antony Ujukwu to help the players retain the title."

Her basketball journey can be traced back 24 years where she got to learn the game from some of best players locally. 

"I started playing basketball at Kenya Christian Industrial Training Institute (KCITI) when I was in primary school under coach Cliff Owuor and Tony Mauldin who introduced me to the game.

I was very fortunate to learn the game by watching players like Peter Kiganya, Collins Wande among other at KCITI, the home of basketball." 

Angeshi also credits her steady grownt and long playing career to firm foundations in the game set by some of the greatest coaches in Kenya that include Mauldin, Owour, Sony Mugisha, Peter Nalo, Ben Oluoch, Ronnie Owino and Anthony Ojukwu. 

"From KCITI, my childhood club, who were at the time taking part in division two, I moved to Mennonites in Division One before landing a professional deal with Cargo Ladies in Dar es Salaam for a year. 

I left the Tanzanian side, then coached by Justus Akwessa, and joined Sprite Storms under coach Oluoch for a short stint. I joined KPA in 2008 to date." 

Her 13-year stint with the Mombasa-based clhn has seen her participate in various club championships as well as the All African Games in Mozambique with the national team in 2016

She has won the Zone Five championship in 2016 in Dar es Salaam and 2017 in Kampala. She was also part of the title-winning team in the last championship held in Dar es Salaam, but this time on the technical bench. 

Being the captain of the team for close to eight years, seeing the different squads through the good and the bad, fighting for championships together has been the highlight of Angeshi's stay at KPA, she says.

"Being named the league’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 2014 is one of the biggest achievement with KPA. I felt that finally I had achieved what I have always wanted to. It was a bucket list for me. As a team we had really worked hard to win the championship and being the MVP sealed the deal for one of the best moments with the club." 

As to what has kept her going in the basketball scene and at the top of her game until she decided to make the transition, Angeshi cites her love for basketball and remaining grounded and disciplined as the driving factors. 

"I have been playing the game since I was 12 and while I can still play, I felt that the sooner I made the switch to coaching the better it is for me. This is a great opportunity to shadow the best of the best coaches in Kenya basketball. 

I am look forward to working more with Ojukwu, learning as much as I can from him as he has been successful in his coaching career."

Angeshi says that making the decision to stick with KPA even as she begins her coaching journey was easy. 

"Aside from the fact that they employed me, history never lies. KPA's performance has always been top notch. It has shaped mine and many top players' careers in Kenya and I would love to continue being part of the beautiful story at the 'slaughterhouse'." 

She has been part of several coaching clinics in the country under FIBA international instructor Ronnie Owino as well as attended a FIBA Africa organised coaching course in Dar es Salaam that was conducted on the sidelines of the Zone Five Championship. 

In March, she was part of the a class of more than 70 local coaches who had the privilege of training under FirstCoach.In tactician Mike Farris on his second visit to Kenya.