Varsity side set targets ahead of new season
By Lynette Matheka, July 14, 2020
Last season’s Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) women’s league quarter finalists Zetech University Sparks have set their sights on making their debut in the premier league final when sporting action resumes.
Under coach Maurice Obilo, Sparks have experienced victory in all levels of their basketball journey apart from the premier league.
Making their debut in the top tier in 2016, the varsity side had qualified for the playoffs in the three seasons but are yet to make it into the top four.
In a bid to boost experience and depth in his squad, coach Obilo has enlisted the services of four new talents at the Thika road -based campus.
The four include experienced point guard Debra Obunga from Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) her team-mates at the Mombasa-based club Beryl Aoko and Christine Akinyi as well as University of Nairobi’s (UON) Valery Kemunto.
“Last season I had 11 players, most of whom are young and lacked the experience and confidence of playing in the top tier.
We also needed a post player and a point guard hence my new addition,” said coach Obilo.
He added: “My squad did well last season, seeing that they are young. That experience gained, coupled with the experience of the four new players, gives me the confidence that we can break the quarter finals jinx and go past the semi to the final.”
Obunga is making a return to the varsity side having played for them while in the lower league from 2015 to 2017 where she helped Obilo’s charges gain promotion to the premier league.
She left in 2018 for another stint with KPA, having won the 2013 season with the dockers.
On her part, Kemunto was instrumental in UON’s fairytale 2019 season where they went on to lose in the semi final to eventual league champions Equity Bank Hawks. The Kent Juma- coached UON were making a return to the top tier last season.
“The four players are versatile and still young. They, alongside other players who have been key in my squad, will help me develop the rest into top notch players.
As an institution, we can only sign players who are attached to the school and all four are back for various courses.
While we cannot sign just any player, it gives us the opportunity to mould our players to fit our system of play,” Obilo said.