Your Weekly Dose of FIBA Africa Zone 5 News: Uganda's City Oilers regroup for the Elite 16 with key additions, while Nairobi City Thunder's prep for the BAL continues. In Burundi, Urunani strengthen their squad, and Rwanda gears up for the Afrobasket qualifiers in November.
Last Updated on
November 13, 2024
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American shooting guard Falando Cortez Jones, the returning duo of Germaine Roebuck and Petty Parish as well as Nigerian forward Israel Otobo who joins from Rwanda's APR and Fox's Peter Obleng are expected to propel the Uganda-based outfit to yet another qualification and, hopefully past the conference where they failed at last year. Falando last featured for Oilers in the 2022 Road to BAL while Otobo is not new to the stage, having turned out for Burundi-club Dynamo Basketball during their 2024 Basketball Africa League run.
Bradley Ibs has roped in Basketball Africa League 2022 winner Ater James Majok and sought-after Nigerien Abdoulaye Harouna (Main Image)as the Kenyan champions look to make history by qualifying for the Basketball Africa League. The inclusion of the duo adds to a team that had recruited heavily in the lead up to the Road To BAL group phase in October. The side is set to play in the East Division, initially scheduled for from 12 November but has since been moved.
Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) leagues got underway a fortnight ago albeit with many of the premier league sides in action for the first time this weekend.
Defending champions Nairobi City Thunder were, however, no in action as their league matches have been shelved until after their continental assignment.
Equity Bank Hawks, the women's league holders are also yet to open their season as they just completed a the Women's Basketball League-Africa Zone Five qualifiers alongside KPA, finishing fourth and fifth respectively.
Under the tutelage of Zedekiah Otieno, the national U16 boys team was one of the nations competing at the Dakar En Jeux Festival 2024, scheduled from Thursday 7 to Sunday 10 November, settling for bronze. Senegal and Gambia won golf and silver. The festival is a vibrant cultural and sports event aimed at building excitement for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games (YOG).
The East Division Road to BAL group D winners, Ururnani have bolstered their squad with the inclusion of Chris Obekpa, the experienced Nigerian reuniting with former AS Douanes teammates Jean-Jacques Boissy and Christopher Marcus Crawford.
Senegalese head coach Mamadou Pabi Gueye has also brought on board compatriot and Senegal U18 coach Parfait Adjivon as his assistant.
Coach Elvis Hakizimana who led Urunani to their title and served as Gueye's assistant in the Road to BAL is part of the Athletes in Action Coaches Academy taking place from November 5 to 15 at the Athletes in Action World Training and Resource Center in Xenia, Ohio, USA. This is a continuation of training for the VBL coach of the Year as he also participated in a training program by the IOC (International Olympic Committee) in Switzerland last year.
The men's national team under coach Cheikh Sarr is in training ahead of the second Afrobasket qualifying window. The side is in Group C alongside Cameroon, Gabon and the hosts for this window, Senegal. Competition is set for 22 to 24 November. The team has lined up friendly matches against Mali and South Sudan
[Photography Courtesy of Nairobi City Thunder, Kenya Basketball Federation, The Times Rwanda]
