Ojukwu confirms Okoro signing, commits to dominate second half of the season

Kenya Ports Authority head coach Anthony Ojukwu is confident that his side will once again be among the contenders later on this season as the Kenya Basketball Federation Women’s Premier League enters the crucial stretch of the season.

KPA had been out of action from the league for close to two months after being involved in the FIBA Africa Women’s Champions Cup in Maputo, Mozambique where they finished sixth after going down to ASC Ville de Dakar in the last classification match on December 17 2022.

The next break in play for the KPA players came in early this year as they, plus the coach, were out for Kenya Lionesses duty in the Afrobasket Qualifiers in Lugogo, Uganda - finishing third behind eventual champions Egypt and Uganda.

“It was a long break, there was a lot we needed to work on in terms of getting back on pace and am glad we looked good in our weekend performances,” Ojukwu said on Tuesday referring to his side’s consecutive victories over the University of Nairobi Dynamites and Kisumu Lady Bucks this past weekend.

Among the ‘new but familiar’ faces at KPA in the huge 105-15 victory on Saturday was 23-year-old Nigerian international Ifunaya Okoro that the defending champions recruited in the mid-season window.

“I can confirm Okoro is part of us until the end of the season,” Ojukwu said in regard to completing the new signing. “We were in an advantageous position because we got to see her performances first hand while she played for us in the Champions Cup.

“I was really impressed with how well she played and with advice from the team’s board, we decided to extend her stay at the club. She was ready and excited to play for us and so it was easy.”

Ojukwu however did confirm that a Portuguese club was courting her but she made the call to remain at the club where she averaged 20.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists in the Champions Cup.

In addition, Okoro was named in the All Tournament team that also included MVP Hager Amer, teammate Reem Mousa and Costa do Sol’s duo of Ingvild Mucauro and Eleuteria Lhavanguane.

“I like her attributes because she can play in almost all positions,” Ojukwu said. “It's just not positionless basketball but also her vision, offense and high IQ. A very great addition to the team.”

Also among the new recruits list is former Eagle Wings player Hilda Ndegwa who the Lionesses assistant coach described as ‘a young player who has been on my radar that I needed to bring on board.’

Also in the mini-break, KPA parted ways with center Madina Okot who transferred to Zetech Sparks to further her studies.

“You don’t want to lose such a talent,” Ojukwu said. “But for us, we realized that the player wanted to get an education. Such things come before basketball and we allowed her to leave. We wish her all the best.”

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Looking forward, Ojukwu expects to do what KPA has always done - going for the title and representing Kenya again in the continentals.

KPA next play ANU Panthers at the Makande Hall on Saturday 25 March.