Kenya Morans ace Ariel Okal signs short-term deal with Burundian club

Kenya Moran’s power forward Ariel Okal has completed his move to Burundian Club Dynamo BBC on a short-term deal expected to go through for three months.

Okal traveled to the Burundian capital, Bujumbura two weeks ago and after deliberations that involved team head coach Olivier Ndayiragije - decided to ink on the dotted line, tying him at the club till the end of July this year.

“I jumped on the opportunity to play for them as I get ready to return to my club Ahli Sidab later this year when the Oman League resumes,” Okal told Mozzart Sport as he confirmed the development.

Okal in March concluded his regular season in Oman, where the team ended their season in fourth place after going down to Al Seeb and Nizwa Club in two consecutive knock-out and bronze medal matchups respectively.

The former Namuwongo Blazers man would then be named as the player of the game award, adding up to the recent gong the big man had scooped up weeks prior, when he was voted the best forward in the 2022-23 Oman Basketball League.

“I have never been to Burundi before and I feel the need to add some firepower to the team,” Okal, who tasted a few minutes of action last Saturday in a 73-71 loss to Urunani added.

“The motivation is still there for me. That is what we always do!”

The big man in his second game on 20 May racked 14 points and seven rebounds in just over 16 minutes to help his side register a revenge 69-47 victory over Urunani at the Bujumbura State Department Grounds.

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Dynamo BBC (5-2) are third in the Viva Burundian Basketball League Elite Eight table on 12 points, two adrift of leaders Urunani and Tigers who are in second place.

Urunani last won the league in 2018 and also participated in the BAL 2021 qualifiers where they got bounced in the group stages.

The side - which was also home to Kenya’s Kenneth Wachira - finished fourth in Group D (West Division) behind Patriots BBC (Rwanda), City Oilers (Uganda) and JKT (Tanzania), winning a single game – a 90- 43 triumph over bottom-placed Hawassa City (Ethiopia).

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Okal has had a non-stop year that began with winning the league and Sultan Cup double in the 2020-2021 season with Al Bashaer before making his move to Ugandan side Namuwongo Blazers where he finished runners up to Basketball Africa League side City Oilers.