KBF name Lionesses provisional squad for Afrobasket qualifiers

Five Kenyan internationals have been included in a 27-player Kenya Lionesses provisional squad named on Thursday ahead of non-residential camp as the team prepares for the FIBA Africa Zone Five Afrobasket qualifiers.

Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) Secretary General (SG) Ambrose Kisoi confirmed the squad is expected to begin training on Monday 16 January for the competition slated for 12 to 19 February in Kampala, Uganda.

Under the tutelage of George Mayienga who will be deputized by Antony Ojukwu and Eunice Ouma, the squad will also look to qualify for the Africa Games when they head out to Kampala next month as the qualifiers double up as the qualifying competition for the continental showpiece.

Portugal-based Victoria Reynolds, Spain’s Mercy Wanyama and the US-based trio of Felmas Koranga, Ruth Mbugua and Eunice Silong made the squad.

The local-based contingent is led by KBF women’s league Most Valuable Player (MVP) Natalie Akinyi alongside teammates at Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) Jemimah Omondi, Seline Okumu, Barbra Diana, Vilma Owino and Medina Okot.

Others include skipper Melissa Akinyi and her Equity Hawks’ teammates Deborah Atieno and Maryanne Nyagaki. Zetech Sparks has five players making the team while Dynamites has three. The rest are drawn from Strathmore Swords and Storms.

The 12-nation biennial FIBA Women's AfroBasket is scheduled to return in late July after the qualification rounds.

Defending champions Nigeria, Mali (runners-up), Cameroon (third-place) and Senegal (fourth-place) have qualified for the final round by virtue of reaching the Semi-Finals in 2021.

Provisional Squad

Point Guards

1.Natalie Akinyi (KPA Ladies)

2.Ashley Minayo (Zetech University)

3.Deborah Atieno (Equity Bank Ladies)

4. Jemimah Omondi (KPA Ladies)

5. Marylisa Omondi (Zetech University)

Shooting Guards

6.Melissa Akinyi (Equity Bank Ladies)

7.Elizabeth Okumu (UON Dynamites)

8. Selina Okumu (KPA Ladies)

9. Alexandra Juma (Strathmore Swords)

10. Winnie Chebet (UON Dynamites)

Small Forwards

11. Barbara Diana (KPA Ladies)

12. Shalon Gaceri (UON Dynamites)

13. Celia Makungu (Storms)

14. Elizabeth Abayo (Storms)

15. Vallery Kemunto (Zetech University)

Power Forwards

16. Christine Akinyi (Zetech University)

17. Beryl Aoko (Zetech University)

18. Joy Mupalia (Strathmore Swords)

19. Maryanne Nyagaki (Equity Bank Ladies)

20. Vilma Owino (KPA Ladies)

 Centers

21. Madina Okot (KPA Ladies)

22. Margaret Ayieko (Strathmore Swords)

Diaspora Players

23. Victoria Reynolds (Imortal Tcars, Portugal)

24. Mercy Wanyama (AD Cortegada, Spain)

25. Felmas Koranga (Troy University, US)

26. Ruth Mbugua (Danville Chrsitain Academy, US)

27. Eunice Silong (Bryant & Stratton College, US)

Head Coach: George Mayienga

Assistant Coach: Antony Ojukwu

Assistant Coach: Eunice Ouma

Team Manager: Sylvia Kamau

Team Doctors: Trufosa Mochache and Antony Ndeda

Physiotherapist: Farida Kavere