Tough talking Maina cautions Hawks against complacency

Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) women's league former champions Equity Hawks are back in training on Tuesday 3 January after the festive break. 

Head coach David Maina says the team has elected to get back in training early enough to prepare for the second leg of action where he says there will be no excuses for poor performance. 

GITAHI: Should we expect better outings in club basketball this year?

Maina has send a stern warning to his charges against below par performance saying that the squad, however relatively new, had time to gel in the first leg played last year and they have no reason not to give 100 percent positive results. 

"We went through a rough patch especially at the beginning of the season and while there is still work to be done, I believe the team is in a better place. 

As the second leg of the season jumps off, we will look to win all the remaining games so we can finish in the top two positions after the regular season. Right now we are in third and that is unfamiliar territory for us," offered Maina. 

Maina says losing two games early on in the season was a wake up calm that their house was not in order and they have spend the better part of the first leg working on that. 

Kenya basketball referees' body set for elections

"We struggled in some of the matches that we shouldn't have and that cannot happen in the second leg. All the players have to show up if we are to compete for the title we lost to Kenya Ports Authority (KPA)," the tactician went on. 

The bankers head for this year's action, having played two matches in the repeat leg, without the services of guard Hilda Ndegwa and centre player Salma Akinyi. 

Ndegwa who has been with the bankers for more than seven years, having been recruited from university had decamped to league champions KPA. Akinyi has been let go by the club. 

"I am happy for Ndegwa. She has been an integral part of the team for long but seeing her growth in the sport gives me joy. She will be an asset for her new employer," offered Maina adding that her absence will not have a big impact as the side has new recruit Deborah Obunga to fill the shoes. 

Maina adds that assistant coach Samba Mjomba will now have to play the role of coach cum player as her experience will be needed on the floor.