Morans forward lands Oman deal

Kenya Morans forward Fidel Okoth is the newest talent export from the country having agreed a season long deal, with an option to extend, with Oman’s 2021 league runner up Nizwa Club. 

Okoth is already training with the side who, on Tuesday 19 October lost the league to AlBashaer Club, home to another Moran Ariel Okall, who won the 2021 league unbeaten. 

This is the Butere Boys alumnus' second professional stint, having left Ugandan Champions City Oilers where he had joined earlier this year after the league was suspended following a spike in Covid-19 cases in the country. 

"I had to find a new home since the Ugandan league was suspended and my contract was ending. Okall connected me to my now coach and he was impressed with my videos and got interested in signing me and now we are here. I am happy to be here and I am ready to put in the work. The club has a rich history and I am ready to help them wrestle the title from AlBashaer which will be no mean task,"

Morans' forward bags first title overseas

"I begin my walk with the club in the league Cup set to throw off on Saturday 23 October and the target is to win the Cup for a start. As far as personal targets go, I am hoping to lift at least one title and win the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award in such a competitive league,” said Okoth. 

The national team player has featured for Strathmore Blades locally, having joined the Tony Ochieng-coached varsity side in 2015 on a basketball scholarship. He was part of the 2017 squad that reached the Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) men’s league final falling to Kenya Ports Authority (KPA). 

Okoth (in grey T-shirt poses for a photo with his new team as they finished second in the Oman league

In 2018, he received his first national team call up and made his debut in a friendly match against Rwanda the same year. The trip away to Rwanda, an initiative of Morans’ centre player Desmond Owili has been touted as the re-birth of the national team. The team played two matches, losing in the first round and playing for a draw in the second. 

His first chance in a competitive match came in Bamako, Mali as the team featured in the inaugural AfroCAN. Coach Cliff Owuor introduced the 24-year-old for 3:16 minutes in a group stage match against Nigeria, a game Morans won 81-69 en route to their second-place finish in the tournament.

“Being part of the national team since my trip away to Rwanda has been great. It has helped me build my confidence on the court and made me a better player. This is just the beginning, I believe there is better and more to come,” he added.