Mayienga worrisome of foreign-based legion’s availability

Kenya national women’s basketball side, Kenya Lionesses, have 45 days to prepare for the 2021 Women’s Afrobasket due on September 17 to 26 in Cameroon and coach George Mayienga has his work cut out.

With the team yet to heat camp for the preparations, coach Mayeinga’s biggest worry is the availability of his foreign-based players who fore the core of the squad that did duty in the FIBA Zone Five qualifiers in Rwanda.

Lionesses beat Egypt to be crowned FIBA Zone Five champions

The team spent their weekend in Mombasa for a decompressing session after lifting the zone five trophy two weeks ago and are set to have a definite answer as to when they will hit camp later this week.

Brenda Wasuda, skipper Rose Ouma and Felmas Koranga are already out of the country with Victoria Reynolds expected to return to her USA base on Wednesday 4 August 2021.

“Due to work, school and club commitments, the said players are out of the country but talks have already begun with their respective institutions to have them available for the continental championship. Spain-based Mercy Wanyama is currently in the country but her league will be starting right at the time the Afrobasket is scheduled to jump off. She too is in the process of making arrangements for the same,”

Lionesses land Cameroon, Cape Verde for September Afrobasket

“Luckily, we know the dates early in advance and the players can now make arrangements with a definite date in mind. I am, however, optimistic that all of them will be available for selection,” Mayienga expressed.

Lionesses picked a 99-83 win against favourites and holders Egypt in the Zone Five qualifiers to book a direct ticket to the continental showpiece. They have landed in group A that has hosts Cameroon and Cape Verde. Egypt benefitted from a wild card and are in group C that has Senegal and Gambia.

“Our work is cut out. This is a different level of competition and we have to prepare differently for the level of competition expected there. Each team is tough, including us,” added Mayienga.

The tactician who inherited a squad that had already been named by the federation before he was appointed head coach remains non-committal on whether or not he will have a chance to select his squad and which departments he intends on strengthening.

“We cannot talk about the squad without knowing who is available and who is not,” he said.