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KPA, Equity Hawks eyeing WBL-Africa qualification in Zanzibar
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Reading Time: 2min | Wed. 23.10.24. | 11:37
The Dockers head to the competition as the defending champions, having won last year’s qualifying phase against Rwanda Energy Group
Defending champions Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) and Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) league champions Equity Bank Hawks are in the final phases of preparing for the Women's Basketball League-Africa (WBL-Africa) Zone 5 qualifiers set for Zanzibar.
The competition that ran as Africa Women’s Basketball League (AWBL) last year, has so far attracted nine teams, and is set to tip off on Sunday 27 October to Saturday 2 November with the finalists assured of a place in the final slated for December in Dakar, Senegal.
KPA won the qualifiers to the AWBL last year, going on to make history as the first Kenyan side to reach the semis of a continental competition.
The Antony Ojukwu-coached dockers, however, did not stop there as they stunned a star-studded Rwanda Energy Group (REG) to reach the final, losing to Sporting Alexandria.
Coach Ojukwu who has had the team in training for two weeks says the pressure is on them as they look to defend that Zone 5 title and advance to the final.
"We have had good preparations, starting on 7 October. We started working on the players' fitness first and I am satisfied with the levels we have reached.
We have also worked on our game and I feel confident as we head to Zanzibar," Ojukwu told Mozzart Sport.
In last year’s competition, the then Kenyan champions had recruited several players with their former player Madina Okot, who had joined from Zetech Sparks and Kenya Lionesses' Victoria Reynolds impressing.
The duo made the team of the tournament alongside Sporting Alexandria's Hagar Amer and the new-look competition's Most Valuable Player (MVP) Cierra Dillard as REG's Destiny Philoxy.
KPA arrive in Zanzibar on Wednesday 23 October, and Hawks who join them a day later face stiff competition from among others Egypt's Al Ahly, REG and compatriots APR who are hoping to join Sporting Alexandria fighting for the African title.
Registered teams so far
Al Ahly (EGY)
KPA(KEN)
Equity Hawks(KEN)
Hawassa City (ETH)
APR (RWA)
REG (RWA)
Fox Divas (TAN)
Vijana Queens (TAN)
JKL Lady (UGA)
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