Can Mayienga's charges surmount challenges to qualify for Women's AfroBasket?
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Reading Time: 2min | Fri. 31.01.25. | 14:20
The tactician admits that the side has not had the best of preparations compared to other editions
The national women's basketball team, the Kenya Lionesses, has intensified preparations ahead of their battle for the sole Zone Five ticket to this year's Women's AfroBasket from 3 to 8 February in Cairo, Egypt.
Under the tutelage of George Mayienga who has guided the side in the last two qualifying editions in 2021 and 2023, the former zone champions have their work cut out as they take on defending champions and hosts Egypt, Uganda who are chasing back-to-back appearances, South Sudan and Burundi who are returning for the first time in over a decade.
Speaking to Mozzart Sport, the tactician admitted that he would miss some of his key call-ups led by US-based Felmas Koranga and Madina Okot, among others, putting in him what he terms a 'tough situation'.
"We have to fight with the available workforce in the qualifiers. We are also missing some of the players, like Rose Ouma, who was a key part of the squad in 2021 when the team qualified. It is tough, but our preparations will dictate how well we handle the competition to qualify,” Mayienga offered.
The tactician will rely heavily on the experienced duo of Rwanda Energy Group (REG) forward Victoria Reynolds and Lithuania-based Mercy Wanyama, who Mayienga reveals has been in constant communication with him as she prepares to join the rest for the trip to Cairo.
Fresh from taking part in the Women’s Basketball League Africa (WBLA), Reynolds, who was instrumental for the Lionesses in the 2021 qualifiers on debut, is already training with the team.
"In 2021, Reynolds was not experienced, but she was able to deliver. Heading to this competition, we will hope that she, alongside players like Wanyama, can bring the much-needed experience. We have young talents who will need their guidance at this level," he went on.
While he acknowledges that the best prepared team would carry the day in Cairo, Mayienga says the presence of players like Natalie Akinyi and Seline Okumu, key players for the club and country internationally, adds to his squad depth.
"We had the best of preparations in 2021 to qualify, having the team for more than a month, which has not been the case this year. That, however, is no excuse, and we are making the best of the time we have to be well prepared. We will also handle each team at a time and adjust accordingly as we look to go through," Mayienga added.
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