21 May 2008

KENYA : KBF wins Cup bid

By Dann O’were

Kenya will host the final tour of the 18th Africa Feminine Club Championship Basketball tournament in November.
Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) secretary, Vitalis Gode, said the continental body Fiba Africa had finally given the green light. He said other bidders, Mali, were told to prepare for next year’s championship. The event, the first to be hosted by Kenya, is scheduled for between November 20 and 29 and will bring together 12 top clubs in Africa.
1st Desportivo of Mozambique are the defending champions having won the final at home in Maputo last year.
The KBF office was put to task during the team managers’ meeting at Kenya Commercial Bank Sports Club, Ruaraka, in April over participation in international tournaments. The officials wondered why Kenya has not hosted any of the African championships since the era of former chairman, Joseph Kimani.
The managers asked KBF to move quickly and contact Fiba headquarters. Kenya have never hosted the club show before despite being regular contenders. Pundits say this is a move in the right direction.
Kenya have successfully hosted two championships at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani — the Africa Masculine show in 1993 and the Africa Feminine Championship in 1997. The national teams finished fourth in both categories.
Kenya will be represented by national champions KCB Lions, Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) women’s team, who will be defending the title they won in Kigal, Rwanda, last year, and debutants United States International University Flames.
They will have to travel to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for the Zone Five tournament in November. Gode said the dates would be announced later.
Last year, KPA represented the country in Mozambique were they finished eighth. The hosts, who had entered three teams, managed to sail to the semi-finals. 1st Desportivo beat compatriots Ispu to the diadem.

Gode said Kenya will also host the inaugural basketball for the deaf between October 28 and November 5.

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