Okwako confident of Kenya’s chances at U16 Afrobasket qualifiers in Dar
Reading Time: 2min | Sat. 13.07.24. | 08:50
Three countries, hosts Tanzania, Kenya and Burundi are participating
Despite missing out on home advantage after the FIBA Zone 5 U-16 Afrobasket qualifiers were moved from Mombasa to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Kenya’s Martin Okwako believes the team has what it takes to bag a slot in the continental showpiece slated for Egypt.
Okwako, who will guide the Kenyan boys in the zonal showpiece, says both his team and the girls’ team under coach Rose Mshilla have been working on their systems ahead of the competition with an emphasis on getting the basics right.
The two teams get their campaign off on Saturday 13 July at the FIBA Africa Zone Five qualifiers that got underway on Friday at Filbert Bayi stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
“The teams were in residential training at Upper Hill but we move to Mombasa for the final preparations ahead of our travel. We have a week remaining to get everything in order and I am confident we will be ready for the stiff competition expected from the other countries,” Okwako told Mozzart Sport.
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The tactician who led the boys’ U18 team in their unsuccessful quest for a continental slot in the age group Zone 5 qualifiers held in Kampala last month says the technical bench picked valuable lessons that they will strive to implement in Dar.
“We meet teams from these same countries but we acknowledge the dynamics are slightly different. However, team composition was key in the U18 competition with most fielding foreign-based players who are better. We have called on the federation, in future assignments, to include such players in our squad.
In addition to giving us a better chance at qualification, it also adds to the squad’s depth and in-house competitiveness as such players have more exposure than our Kenyan-based contingent. It is, however, paramount to strike a balance between the two as that helps improve the levels of basketball locally,” Okwako further explained.
Missing out on a home crowd that would have propelled the youngsters to great performances will not hinder the two teams’ quest.
The competition was moved to Dar following the volatile political situation in Kenya, according to a circular by the zone’s Secretary General Vitalis Gode.
“It would have been great playing at home. We have, however, prepared the players mentally after the switch in venue and they will be in the right mental state for the task ahead,” Okwako offered.
