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Morans forward Ariel Okal, formerly based in Algeria, has linked up with local players who have been in training for four weeks now, as he attended his first training session on Wednesday.

Morans are preparing for the FIBA Afrobasket qualifiers set for November 25 to 29 in Kigali, Rwanda where they are set to play Senegal, Angola and Mozambique for a chance to make a return to the Afrobasket after over 27 years since the Kenyan men’s national basketball team last featured in the continental showpiece.

Okal was playing in in the north African country before the Covid-19 pandemic rendered most athletes inactive and has not played since March 7 when he last featured for his North African side, US Setif.

“It has been eight months of no action and I am not at my best on the court.

After my 96 hours of quarantine, after arriving in the country, I am now back on the court and top of my list is working on my shot.

There are several things I would want to do on the court but my long layoff is making it hard.

Luckily, I have joined training early and I have the right equipment at a gym to help me get back to my best,” said Okal.

Team player Ronnie Gundo and Australian based debutant Preston Bungei are expected in the country on Saturday and will be able to join the rest of the squad, for training, on Wednesday.

Similarly, Tom ‘Bush’ Wamukota, who was playing in Rwanda, is likely to join up with the squad at the beginning of the week too.

Valentine Nyakinda and Fidel Okoth who had a stint in the Tanzanian league are already back.