No time to rest for Warriors as league action awaits

Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) men's league champions Ulinzi Warriors have their work cut out and cannot rest on their laurels in their quest to retain the league title as action continues this weekend. 

The William Balozi-coached side laboured to win one of two Basketball Africa League (BAL) first-round qualification matches and qualify for the final round of qualifiers over the weekend. 

Upon landing back from Dar es Salaam where the group D matches were played, the military side has to hit the ground running and get ready for back-to-back matches against Strathmore Blades and Nairobi City Thunder on 6 and 7 November at Nyayo Indoor Arena. 

The tactician, however, believes that this is what his squad needs as two competitions are equally important and one is helping him prepare for the other. 

"We shift our focus to the busy weekend for the league matches. It will be a tough weekend but I believe in my players to step up and deliver. We have won 15 of our 16 matches and are looking to keep the winning streak in the league going against tough opposition. 

At the same time, we will be using the league matches as part of our preparations for the second round of BAL qualification set for next month," offered Balozi. 

Warriors lost their first match in the BAL qualifiers to Burundi's New Star in a 74-80 outcome and had to dig deep in the final game, against South Sudan's Cobra Sport for a 53-47 victory. 

In the local league, Warriors who beat Thunder in the 2019 final playoff to lift the title are looking to make it two in a row. 

Meanwhile, 2019 semi finalists Embakasi Youth (EMYBA) have resumed play having sat out the last three months of action and are looking to escape relegation despite the back-log of matches. 

Over the weekend, the Embakasi-based side lost to Kenyatta University Pirates and Equity Bank to take their tally to five losses in eight matches.