Kenya target Africa Games medals despite rule change
By Lynette Matheka, August 7, 2019
Coach Tony Ochieng will guide team Kenya’s 3×3 (three-on-three) men’s and women’s basketball teams to the 12th edition of the Africa Games (formerly All Africa Games) as he targets the medal bracket.
A squad of six for each team is currently in residential training at Kasarani Indoor Arena as they sharpen for the sport that will be making its debut in Morocco and also at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.
The teams will be whittled down to the final four from each side who will travel to Morocco.
United States International University-Africa’s (USIU-Africa) Ariel Otega will captain the men’s side which has Kenya Ports Authority’s Paul Ekiru, Strathmore University’s Deril Omondi and Fidel Okoth as well as Uganda-based duo of Martin Buluma and Salim Kisilu vying for selection in the four-man team.
The women’s team will be skippered by Equity Bank’s Daisy Ayodi with team-mate Rita Onyango, Strathmore’s Rihana Damaris and Clara Rotich as well as KPA’s Christine Anyango and Africa Nazarene University’s Carol Njeri up for selection.
“Four of the six will make the final squad, two shooting guards and two forwards. The other two are non-travelling substitutes.
This version of basketball tests a player’s level of skills like defence, shooting, holding the ball and screening amongst other skills. We are sharpening shooting skills but so far, the teams are doing well,” said coach Ochieng.
Ochieng believes the two teams are ready since the players have had an experience in 3×3 either at the university games or during a four-week series organised across the country last year.
“Kisilu’s experience having represented Uganda Christian University (UCU) at the 3×3 World University games in China will come in handy for the men’s team. We are looking to improve Kenya’s ranking with this championship and hope more tournaments will be organised to popularise this version of the sport,” added Ochieng.
As opposed to the longer version of the sport, 3×3 is played on a half-court with one basket and lasts 10 minutes. The winner is the first team to score 21 points or the side with the highest score at the end of the 10 minutes.