Maina welcomes Obunga's experience ahead clutch second leg

Experience guard Debora Obunga has officially made her switch from Zetech Sparks to Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) former champions Equity Hawks for the second leg of the ongoing league. 

Obunga featured for the varsity side jn their final first leg matches on the weekend, aiding the Maurice Obilo-led side to back-to-back wins before bidding farewell to the scholars to join the bankers. 

Hawks' head coach David Maina says Obunga's experience is a welcome addition to his side ahead of the second leg where the bankers will be looking to post better results than they did in the first leg. 

"She was part of the team at the Zone Five Club championship in Dar es Salaam few weeks ago and we already know what she is bringing to the team. 

Her presence on defence was felt. She is the kind of player that marshals the defense by talking to everyone and has a firm grip on the ball on offense and that is something we really need for the second leg," offered Maina. 

Obunga was on the winning side when Sparks subjected Hawks to their first defeat of the season, a day before holders Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) added insult to injury by beating Maina's charges for their second defeat of the season. 

While Maina acknowledges that the squad still has some work to do, he was quick to add that the players know what is expected of them and are up to the task. 

"In our first leg losses, we missed some of our key players like Betty Kananu and AnnRose Mandela who are our key scorers so it is not like we lost the games at our best. I expect a better second leg in those two matches and in all the others. 

Many feel like we have struggled in the last three league matches but we have had a busy schedule with the Zone Five competition and back to the Inter-Banks competition. We had to do without a majority of our senior players who were involved in the latter," Maina explained. 

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He continued, "However, that is no excuse. We have players that are yet to reach their full potential and that has to change for the second leg. 

Our biggest undoing has been our defense. We have to cover our bases and everyone has to be as in involved in defense as they are on offense.

Our centres and forwards have to step up on defense. More often than not, we leave that to the guards and that takes away their ability to drive our offense effectively." 

The tactician also revealed the team is in talks with one more player, a utility player who can feature as a shooting guard or small forward but could not disclose finer details as the deal is yet to be sealed.