
Basketball: Blades in ‘tricky’ opener against Warriors as new season tips off
Reading Time: 2min | Fri. 01.09.23. | 14:06
The league was scheduled to resume last weekend but the matches were postponed as teams were, reportedly, 'not ready'.
Coach Tony Ochieng is hoping for a positive start as he guides his charges, Strathmore University Blades, against Ulinzi Warriors in the Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) 2023/24 season opener set for Friday 1 September from 8PM.
Ochieng says facing the former league champions will be tricky given the history of the two sides and the fact that they have been active during the break with internal competitions.
“It has been a long layoff. The players had time to rest, regroup and start preparations for the new season early. We have had friendlies as part of our build up and some of the players were involved in 3x3 competitions so the squad is solid and ready for action.
We expect Warriors to be in top shape as well as they recently held their internal competition in addition to the players who were also part of the national teams. I am, however, expecting my charges to execute well and give themselves a positive start to the season,” Ochieng offered.
Coach Ochieng has bolstered his side with four players Jayson Nwodo, Jack waweru, Washington Mwangi and Gabriel Menya from he varsity’s development team and is confident they have gelled well with his core team ahead of the new season.
The side, however, go to battle without the services of two key players in Daril Omondi and Garang Ding who have since joined Nairobi City Thunder.
“The players joining from the development team have gained enough experience to feature in the top tier and we expect them to compete at the same level with the regulars or better,” the tactician offered further revealing that the Strathmore ‘B’ team has relinquished their premier league slot and will be playing in division one this season.
The premier league match will be curtain raised by Ochieng’s development team as they go up against Kenya Defence Forces’ Snipers in Division One at 6pm.
All the matches will be played at the Nyayo National Stadium Indoor Arena.












