Ochieng relishing Morans' inclusion

Derrick Ochieng is ready to give his all for Kenya when called upon to represent the country as a Moran. 

The national team protégé has been training with the national men's basketball team, Kenya Morans' squad currently in camp in preparation for the FIBA Afrobasket due on 24 August to 5 September in Kigali, Rwanda. 

Although his stay with the national men's basketball team, Kenya Morans, came to an end when the squad began residential training over the weekend, Ochieng is over the moon for the chance to train alongside the best in the country as part of his development and preparation for future assignments.

The Moi Airbase (MAB) utility player was spotted during a Street League tournament in Umoja back in 2019 and was invited to train with the national team that began non-residential preparations three weeks ago. 

"I played in the Street League final in 2019, just when I had returned from military training, and I was named Most Valuable Player (MVP). My former coach at Zetech and Morans team manager approached me and offered me a chance to train with the team as a development player," 

"That was a chance I could not pass. It had been my dream to play for my country and to get the chance to even train with the team is big for me. I have learned a lot in that period. Most of the players in camp have professional experience and I can say my skills level has improved tremendously the three weeks I have been with the team. The coaching staff has also been very helpful. I have learned new skills I executed drills I never thought I had it in me to. I keep working on my game going forward," said Ochieng. 

The 22-year old basketball journey began at in 2009 while still in primary school. He landed a chance for a basketball scholarship in Upper Hill School but he did not make the team. He switched to Jamhuri High where his basketball was nurtured. 

After school he joined Zetech University, this time on a basketball scholarship, where he studied for one and a half years before the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) sides snapped him up in 2019.

"I joined Recruits Training School (RTS) in 2019 and upon completion I joined MAB who were then playing in the Nairobi Basketball Association (NBA). I joined the team when the league was heading to the playoffs and we managed to gain promotion to the second division. This is my second season with the team and I am hoping to help them go higher up in Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) league," he added.