Abdoulaye Harouna on his motivation for joining Nairobi City Thunder and BAL chances

For a student of the game like Abdoulaye Harouna, it was just “normal” for him to get into his first practice with Nairobi City Thunder a few hours after jetting into the country.

After all, that is what you would expect from one of the highly-regarded African basketball stars, whose exploits have been called upon by the ambitious defending Kenya Basketball Federation league champions.

Not according to Thunder coach Bradley Ibs however, as he admitted to being “shocked” at how dialed in the Nigerien 32-year-old was, days into his new calling.

“Coach [Ibs] was impressed that I got in the same day and had a session with the boys,” Harouna tells Mozzart Sport after his second practice with Thunder.

The sense of urgency is not hidden in Harouna, whose catalogue includes being the 2024 Basketball Africa League season steals leader and a member of that year’s All-BAL Defensive First Team.

His first task - along with that of premier defender Ater Majok - as the most experienced player in Thunder, will be to lead the team to its first-ever trip to the Basketball Africa League, and that will involve going through a tricky Elite 16 later this month.

So how did he first get himself here?

“Liz Mills,” Harouna says, referring to her former coach at AS Sale and ABC Fighters, who is “playing a significant recruiting role” at Thunder.

“She reached out to me a week ago and convinced me on why I needed to come here. We had in the past talked about me playing for a Kenyan club, but on this one she literally made me come over.”

And so it was all down to her huh?

“No. I was in conversation with clubs in Libya and DRC but took the decision to come here because I understood they have a strong team. Obviously you end up trusting a true coach like Mills, but also I wanted to be in a place where I had the best chance of winning.”

It was therefore not a surprise to see him bark instructions to his new teammates in a 5 on 5 drill, exemplifying his investment in a place he calls “home” already.

“Feels like I am balling with my home boys,” the shooting guard says. “The team welcomed me so well and they all look to be in good shape. It feels great to be here.”

Over the span of a career that has seen him go through Junior College in Miami, play for hometown club AS Nigelec, FAP, AS Sale, ABC Fighters, and AS Douanes in all five BAL seasons, Harouna is no stranger to some of the players at Thunder, including Tylor Ongwae, Uchenna Iroegbu and Albert Odero.

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Asked if it matters to have those familiar faces around, he says: “No. What matters is a group that is ready to fight and go for it.”

He adds: “You know I always have my eyes on everybody. I watched this team play in the qualifiers in Tanzania."

What did you see? I ask.

“A tough team that got unfortunate with the one loss when their best player fouled out, and their big man got injured.”

On whether he saw something the team needs to freshen up on, he says: “Transition defense and shot selection has to be better. The good thing is that I and Majok will help add some experience and necessary IQ.”

Having got through the Elite 16 with AS Nigelec and AS Sale, Harouna has a number of expectations.

“It’s not easy. Having a good team helps, but you’ll realize here that the officials let it go. No easy fouls, just a team being smart, playing their own game, and dictating the pace. The challenge is to get into the promised land.”

And is that possible?

“For sure!” Harouna says with a serious stare. “We gonna make it.”