Basketball in Africa

By Dann O’Werre

Kenya has been nominated by Fiba-Africa to host the under-18 Junior Championships, officials revealed on Tuesday.

Agina Wesonga, the Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) chairman, said they were honoured the continental body had given the nod to Kenya, adding that his team would soon meet to look at the logistics.

Fiba-Africa wants the championships to be staged in Nairobi in June/July to involve all the Zone Five countries with potential threat coming from continental powerhouse, Egypt.

"We have received an invitaion to host this junior championships. We will meet to see whether it is possible or not," said Agina, adding that "we will do all that is possible to take this chance."

Kenya has in the past successfully hosted Masculine and Feminine Championships in 1993 and 1997 respectively and this will be their first junior continental championships.

Meanwhile, East, Central and Southern Africa Basketball Confederation (ECSABC) has thanked Fiba-Africa for recognising the work they are doing in the region.

Assistant secretary, Ronny Owino, said that the regional body will meet on March 18 to discuss their acceptance by Fiba-Africa into continental programmes.

Fiba-Africa had on Monday communicated through secretary-general, Alphonse Bile, that they will in future support the programmes of the ECSABC.

In another development, Nairobi Basketball Association (NBA) will host the late Tom Munyama Junior Memorial tournament at the KCB Sports Club, Ruaraka, this weekend.