Wamukota hoping to end Kenya stereotype with Afrobasket qualification

Morans center Bush Wamukota is hoping to put an end to the stereotype that Kenyans only excel in athletics after sealing a place at the FIBA AfroBasket 2021.

Kenya ended their 28-year drought from the continental championship after beating African heavyweights Angola 73-74 in the second window of qualifiers.

For decades Kenya has been renowned for producing long-distance runners who have dominated the world stage, winning numerous medals.

Wamukota is itching to prove to the world that Kenya can also produce spectacular performances in different sports. 

“We have qualified for the Afrobasket but it does not end there, we still have more plans and goals to achieve as a team, we are however happy to have qualified, we are like the stepping stone for future generations.”

“We want people to know Kenya for other sports and not athletics only, we also know how to play basketball and other sports, to qualify and make history makes me very proud,” he said.

Morans jetted into the country in the wee hours of Wednesday after travelling from Yaounde, Cameroon and were hosted by Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohammed for a luncheon. 

The qualification under the stewardship of head coach Liz Mills also made history as she became the first woman to guide a men’s team to the Afrobasket.

The qualification was sealed after a moment of brilliance from Tyler Okari who scored at the buzzer through a well-taken jump shot with Wamukota revealing that he was confident his former Maseno School teammate would deliver. 

“I was very sure Tyler was going to make that shot because I have been playing with him since High School and I have seen him in similar types of situations which is why I had no doubt he was going to make that shot.”

“He told everyone to make way for him to take the shot, it was a team effort but when it gets to such situations you need your main man to step up to the plate and we are glad he did that for us,” he added.

Morans will be hoping for a better showing than their fourth-place finish back in 1993 when they return to the tourney slated for 24 August to 5 September 2021 in Kigali, Rwanda.