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Nairobi City Thunder eager to become first Kenyan side to qualify for Basketball Africa League
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Reading Time: 3min | Wed. 09.10.24. | 10:43
The side welcomes league MVP Albert Odero back to their roster after helping Urunani qualify for the same competition
Coach Brad Ibs leads a star-studded Nairobi City Thunder, who won the Kenyan top-tier unbeaten, to their debut in the Basketball Africa League (BAL) with lofty targets.
Thunder, the third Kenyan team to take the Road to BAL journey, are looking to become the first side to go past the Elite 16. Both Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) and Ulinzi Warriors have been eliminated at this level previously.
Set for Tuesday 15 to Sunday 20 October in Tanzania, Thunder are playing hosts JKT, Ethiopia’s Hawassa City, Beau Vallon of Seychelles, Ushindzi of Comoros, Burundi's Urunani and GNBC of Madagascar with coach Ibs admitting these are sides not to be taken lightly.
"We have a high level of talent and the players are hungry. With any new group, sometimes it takes a while to get execution to the levels it should be but we are almost there. In the remaining days we will be dialled in," Ibs, whose charges leave for Tanzania on Saturday 12 October told Mozzart Sport.
The Road to BAL East Division group phase qualifiers will see two sides qualify for the Elite 16 and Thunder have recruited heavily in their quest to go through with Kenyan international Tylor Ongwae leading the pack.
Ibs believes the new recruits have gelled well with the local players, the tactician adding that little is left to achieve the cohesiveness he desires.
"That repetition to achieve cohesion, communication and just knowing which players have a good connection and can play off each other is what we are putting final touches on," he explained adding that his side is targeting an unbeaten run to qualify.
Ahead of the competition, Thunder had brought in Senegalese talent Michel Diogoye Diouf, a four-time Basketligaen Defender of the Year with Bakken Bears in Denmark, Ongwae's former team. The power forward has, however, been dropped with coach Ibs explaining his absence.
"We realised early it wasn't going to be as good of a fit as we had thought. He is a good player but our style of play is different," he offered.
He is, however, impressed with how the rest of the signings, including William Sidney Davis II (Will), guard Uchenna Iroegbu, Ongwae, Eugene Adera, and Derrick Ogechi.
"They are complimenting the Kenyan-based players. The fierce battles in training shows the level of competitiveness. There are no weak links. They are interacting as a unit and the integration has been seamless," Ibs explained.
Asked which sides he finds challenging from the Group, the tactician singled out Burundi's Urunani and GNBC of Madagascar who are regulars in Road to BAL.
In a quick rejoinder, however, Ibs maintains that Thunder will not be looking past anyone. "We will give all matches the effort and attention needed for victory but those two have to be given special attention," he concluded.
