L. MathekaDeaf Basketball sides begin Africa tourney preps
Reading Time: 2min | Tue. 29.06.21. | 15:38
Kenya will be looking to defend the titles won in 2016 when Uganda hosted the continental championship
As Kenya prepares to host the Africa Deaf Basketball championships in Nairobi from September 17-24, the national federation held a team selection tournament on Sunday, 27 June and Monday, 28 June from where 19 players were selected for both the men's and women's teams.
The two-day event brought together teams from eight regions from where coaches led by men’s head coach Charles Goro and his women's counterpart Caroline Ouma got a chance to select their provisional squads expected to begin training in August in preparation for the competition.
As Kenya looks to defend the continental trophies they won in 2016 when Uganda hosted the championships, Goro has trusted Kwale’s Kidanga Salmini, Jeofrey Omondi from Nyeri, Charles Kimanzi from Coast Combined and Calvin Musalia of deaf Kings to compete for the point guard position.
Deaf basketball team selection and preparation ongoing at Nyayo Stadium ahead of the African Championship for the Deaf in September 2021.The national basketball team will also be selected to represent Kenya at the 2022 Olympics.@Ncpwds @SafaricomPLC @KCBGroup @ATInnovateNow pic.twitter.com/zEyk11cNFt
— Signs TV Kenya (@SignsTvKenya) June 28, 2021
Ndoro Chaka, Leakey Nyabaro and Brian Okiring of Kwale, Mombasa Pirates, Kajiado respectively up for selection in the shooting guard position. For the small forwards, five players, Chaka Nyae from Kwale, Michael Ndungu drawn from Nyeri, Nicholas Aluoch selected from Mombasa Pirates as well as Elvis Ochieng and Wilson Kenda of Deaf Kings and Kajiado will be looking to impress the selectors in training.
Wilson Obange of Mombasa Pirates, David Ogogo from Kisumu and Egesa Blasio from Kajiado constitute the power forwards’ list while the big man duties will be left to Mombasa Pirates’ Fredrick Ochieng, and Deaf Kings duo of James Ogeka and Caleb Kabaka.
The women’s team saw 19 make the provisional squad with the selection tournament’s most valuable player (MVP) Mercy Mideva headlining the list of point guards that also has Mombasa Pirates’ Mourine Akinyi, Kisumu’s duo of Mercyline Nekesa and Christine Nyawbeki as well as Queen’s Juliet Gekondo.
Talent development of Persons with Disabilities is key to Economic Development. Deaf Basketball at Kasarani is on till tomorrow 3rd April 2019 @mulekaluke @PS_Heritage @ashura_michael @UKinKenya @LabourSPKE @HCNicHailey @MOH_Kenya pic.twitter.com/XQX2bEJAfs
— Signs TV Kenya (@SignsTvKenya) April 2, 2019
Kwale's duo of Siti Seif and Jumwa Ngori headline the shooting guards' list that also had Kajiado's Sabina Achieng, Maurine Atieno of Mombasa and Lucy Akinyi of Queens.
The selectors have entrusted the small forward duties to Winnie Adhiambo and Mercy Jerono of Queens and Kajiado respectively while Lydia Akinyi and Christine Nafula from Kisumu and Queens will do duty in the power forwards position.
Nyeri's duo of Lucy Muthoni and Faith Wangui as well as Mercyline Adhiambo of Mombasa Pirates will fight for the team's big man position.
