Kenya men’s deaf basketball team that qualified for Brazil 2022  Deaflympics Championships will be looking to sharpen their shooting abilities before the global event.

Head coach Charles Goro said he already has a balanced team, one he intends to train well so that they can  be ready for Brazil next May.

The side booked a berth in the global event after their opponents Uganda, Rwanda and Zanzibar failed to show up at the just ended Africa Deaflympics Ball Games Qualifiers at the Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi.

The feat simply means Kenya has retained its top spot in Africa in the discipline.

“We are happy to have made it to Brazil,” said Goro. “My target will be to improve on our previous rankings in the world championships. We aim to at least win a match in Brazil.”

Ahead of Brazil, Goro wants his team to improve on shooting which is his area of concern for now.

“Our shots are not perfect for now. We will work on them and other basketball fundamentals

“I believe it will be easy to achieve the target with an early residential camp, probably in March next year before we depart for Brazil in May,” said Goro.

By qualifying for Brazil, it means Kenya has retained its top position in Africa in the discipline.

Globally, Kenya is ranked eighth following their last place finish in the world contests in Bulgaria in 2013 and a similar position in Turkey in 2017.

The current national team was selected in July this year following national trials that involved best players from all the counties that converged at Nyayo National Stadium for the selections.

The final squad picked had been training for five weeks ahead of the continental qualifiers that ended at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani on Saturday.

“Even though our rivals have not yet showed up, we really prepared well for the competition,” said Goro.

Goro retained five old players to bolster his new squad for the qualifiers.

The charges are Calvin Musalia, Eliud Ochieng, Caleb Kabaka, James Ogeka and Leakey Nyabaro.