Wanyama returns 'home' with WBLA qualification in mind
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Reading Time: 3min | Wed. 12.11.25. | 21:17
KPA are looking to reclaim their Zone Five title, a feat that would see them get back on the continental stage since their second-place finish in Egypt, 2023
Mercy Wanyama, one of Kenya's best basketball exports, is back playing at home with national champions Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), who are chasing Women’s Basketball League Africa (WBLA) qualification at the Zone Five qualifiers ongoing at Nyayo Gymnasium.
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Wanyama, who previously won the Kenyan league with Equity Hawks, is hoping to guide the star-studded KPA back to the continental championship, a feat she achieved last year while turning up for Rwanda Energy Group (REG) who finished second in the Zonal qualifiers to book an automatic slot.
As she comes back home, playing alongside familiar faces, her focus is on giving Kenya a chance to return to the continental showpiece, WBLA, after the Dockers missed out last year, finishing fourth.
“It feels really great to play at home and I appreciate the support that we have received from the fans. We have had a decent start and are getting stronger with each game.
Our chemistry did not take much work but we are working to get better. I believe the experience I have picked over the years will be key for KPA but all in all, as a team we need to keep working together, pulling each other and we go for qualification,” Wanyama says.
The Kenya Lionesses' ace has been instrumental for KPA, who have won their opening two matches convincingly.
She has averaged five points, 5.5 rebounds and an assist while averaging 18 minutes on the floor.
Her signing added depth to a squad that's stacked both upfront and on the back court.
Wanyama acknowledges there will be competition for the two automatic slots especially from the two Rwandese sides, APR and REG, but is quick to add that they have mapped out strategies to get victory.
“We have studied REG and I know how most of them play. They have a new coach and have changed a bit but majority of the core remains the same. We have also watched APR and we know how to tackle them. We have to be tight defensively and let our offense speak and once we make our shots count, it would not be a problem for us,” Wanyama added.
As she represents a home team for the first time in close to a decade, she chose to have a memory of her family on her, going for her brother's jersey number 67.
"At first, I wanted to wear the same jersey number as my elder brother MacDonald Mariga (17) but did not find it available here. In the national team, I always wear number 13 and again, it was not available here. So I thought, why not, wear Victor’s famous number. After all, 6+7=13 so it is a win-win,” she explained.
The Antony Ojukwu-led KPA play Burundi's Gladiators on Wednesday, before facing what's expected to be their toughest challenge in the group phase, APR, looking to top Group A heading to the semis.
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