Bungei raring to go as he makes Morans debut

Denmark-based Preston Bungei is set to make his debut for the national men's basketball team, Kenya Morans, on Friday, 19 February against Senegal after missing the November window despite being in Rwanda with the squad. 

A former Norfolk State University skipper believes his experience of playing in Europe for three seasons and in America's division one will help Morans win. 

"It is an honour to wear Kenya across my chest and to represent my family and my late father. I just want to make them proud and know that he (father) would be happy. It has been great getting to know my teammates and sharing the floor with them these last two windows. I am looking forward to making my debut," said Bungei.

Before joining Denmark's Randers Cimbria, the 25-year old had featured for HKK Capljina in Bosnia and Herzegovina where he joined in September 2019 and was playing until March 2020.

He won defensive player of the year and was named in the Third Team All-League. Before that, he was coming off an eight-month stay at KK Jazine Arbanasi in Croatia where he was based between September 2018 and April 2019.

"Having played in Europe and America I can bring some experience, defense, rebounding and offense as well. My aim is to try and help the team win in any way. My expectations, just like my teammates, is for three wins. One cannot go to a competition expecting to lose," added Bungei. 

Morans are chasing a win to book a ticket to the Afrobasket championship scheduled for later in August. In the November qualifying window, the homeboys picked a win against Mozambique in a 79-62 outcome but fell to Senegal and Angola. 

Angola are ranked second in Africa, 32nd globally, behind top-placed Nigeria. Senegal are fourth, 35th globally, while Mozambique are 14th in the continent and 96th globally after dropping three positions. Kenya is ranked 20th continentally, up one slot after the Rwanda qualifiers, and 115th globally, up seven positions from November window.