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L. MathekaHawks plot title defence as league resumption nears
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Reading Time: 3min | Thu. 03.06.21. | 08:43
the team's technical director, David Maina says both the men's and women's teams are targeting the last four in the very least.
Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) women's league champions Equity Hawks got back to team training two weeks ago in preparation for the league resumption as they look to defend the title won in the 2019 season.
Additionally, the team is taking part in an ongoing tournament organized at Kawangware's Hope Centre with the semis set for this weekend at the Nyayo Indoor Arena.
"We entered the tournament in search for match fitness as we knew we are likely to be called upon to play at any time and the players have been out of action for a while. The league was suspended just when we were getting our form back after a year of inactivity and that has taken its toll on the players. We hope to be ready by the time the league resumes," said Equity's technical director David Maina.
David Maina, the head coach of Kenya Basketball Federation sides Equity Hawks and Equity Bank wants the government to approve the resumption of sports activities to salvage many stakeholders whose careers are on the line if the ban continues.
— Geoffrey Mwamburi (@bekimwamburi) April 28, 2021
The last league action was on March 21 before a presidential directive saw all sporting activities stopped until May 1. After the ban was lifted, the Ministry of Sports gave return-to-action guidelines two weeks later.
Fixtures seen by Mozzart Sport indicate that the league will resume on June 5 with five matches in the top tier league lined up. The venue of the matches has also been moved to the University of Nairobi (UoN) grounds according to said fixtures.
"I am yet to know for sure that the league will resume this weekend. The team managers had a meeting and are scheduled for another one, via zoom, on June 3. We have a match against Eagle Wings but our team manager has also confirmed that we will be taking part in the tournament's semis so we are waiting for clarification after the Thursday meeting," Maina explained.
Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) sides Equity Bank and Equity Hawks coach David Maina has lamented the federation’s delay to confirm the date when the top league resumes, saying it is derailing their preparations.
— Geoffrey Mwamburi (@bekimwamburi) May 10, 2021
The fixtures indicate that Strathmore University Swords open the weekend action with a clash against Storms while Eagle Wings will be in action for their season-opening match against holders Hawks. Eagle Wings, who are without long-serving player cum coach Evelyne Kedogo who left the side at the beginning of the year, had not played a single match before the league was suspended.
The men's league will see hosts UoN Terror take on Umoja while Kenya College of Accountancy-University (KCA-U) play Eldonets. Equity men take on Thunder in the final match of the opening day. This will be the first match with the Equity men this season for coach Carey Odhiambo. Maina had taken charge in the first four rounds played as Odhiambo was out of the country at the time.
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