KPA begin Zone Five championship preps in Mombasa

Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) women’s side head to residential camp on Tuesday 6 September as coach Antony Ojukwu seeks to prepare his charges early for the FIBA Africa Zone Five championship.

The league champions will be joined by former champions Equity Hawks in representing Kenya at the competition set for 26 September to 1 October in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

KPA dominate Equity for maximum points away in Nairobi

On the weekend, coach Ojukwu guided his charges to victory over Eagle wings, annihilating the former champions 82-34 in a fixture the tactician admits it did little to help him prepare the kind of competition expected in Tanzania.

Ojukwu, however, admits their weekend match against Zetech Sparks who have been on an upward trajectory will give his side the much-needed shake ahead of the regional championship.

“We only had one match in Nairobi this weekend and as if that was not enough, we could not secure a friendly match with Equity who would have helped me identify the areas that need working on. Zetech will provide that much needed competition as they are a strong side,” Ojukwu offered.

Ojukwu yearning for better competition as KPA prepare for Zone Five championship

The tactician is hoping to have the team travel to Tanzania with four days to spare and try to secure a few friendly matches there before action begins. The dockers will also look to bolster their squad as they look to defend the Zone Five title they won in November last year. The tactician is, however, yet to complete talks with targeted players.

According to the zone’s Secretary General (SG) Vitalis Gode, nine clubs have so far confirmed participation with more expected as the competition nears. In addition to the two Kenyan sides Sporting Club of Egypt, Young Sisters of Burundi, Tanzania’s JKT and Vijana Queens, Ethiopia’s Welkite and Hawassa as well as a Rwandese side yet to be named have been entered.

This is three more teams than the championship attracted in the 2021 edition held in Dar es Salaam and won by KPA with Hawks finishing second to book places to the African Club championship which was, however, not held.