KPA begin race for BAL qualification in Tanzania

Kenya Basketball Federation champions Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) will on Thursday 19 October evening kick start their journey to getting a place in next year’s Basketball Africa League (BAL) finals when they take part in the Road to BAL Qualifiers in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.

The 2022-23 champions are in Group C of the East Division Qualifiers that also has Dynamo BBC of Burundi, Benin champions Elan Cotton, and Pazi BBC of Tanzania.

Elan made a switch from Zone A after Ethiopian side Sebeta pulled out of the competition.

In the qualifiers set to be played at the IST Gymnasium, only one team will make it through to next month’s Elite 16, with each team playing each other once.

KPA hit camp on Thursday ahead of BAL qualifiers

KPA, under French coach Guy Arnaud, will be hoping to get past the first round stage like they did last year in a win and defeat to COSPN and Djabal Basket Iconi, and securing a place in the Elite 16 as they first face off Dynamo BBC, making their second BAL Qualifiers since 2021, on Thursday from 1600 EAT.

The dockers, in addition to the return of Kenya Morans forward Ariel Okal, will be aided by the introduction of four new names to their squad namely: Luqman Lundy, Tyronne Jordan (USA), Abdoulaye Haidara (Mali) and Bright Akhuetie (Nigeria).

Dynamo on the other hand, will rely on new recruits David ‘Dekong’ Deng of South Sudan and Nigerian sensation Israel Otobo to provide stern opposition.

The other group game on the day will see debutants Pazi, playing at home and with the pair of Hasheem Thabeet and Dhieu Deing, face Elan Cotton, who have past experience in this competition, as they earned a wildcard spot to last year’s Elite 16 stage.

The game will kick off at 1900 EAT at the same venue.

KPA’s next game will be on Friday, when they face Elan, before wrapping things up with a tie against Pazi BC on Saturday 21 October.

FULL KPA SQUAD: Job Byron, Ty Jordan, Luqman Lundy, Akhuetie Bright, Lennox Wanje, Martin Kitongo, Benjamin Muga, Tobias Odhiambo, Haidara Abdoulaye, Eugene Adera, Gerry Wekesa, Brian Sivachi, Ariel Okal.