KPA Women's basketball team retains regional title, qualifies for continental finals
Mombasa – October 11, 2017
Kenya Ports Authority women's basketball team are once again the undisputed Champions for FIBA Africa Zone V games just concluded at the MTN indoor Arena, Lugogo Kampala.
Jubilant KPA Women basketball Team Captain Brenda Angeshi and teammates receive the coveted Champions' Trophy from the President of Zone V FIBA Africa Eng.Hesham EL Harir at MTN Arena Gymansium,Lugogo,Kampala on Sunday. Looking on are the Uganda Basketball Federation President Ambrose Tashobya (Extreme right) and KPA’s head of delegation Mrs. Jayne Kamau.
The Dockers beat arch-rivals Equity Bank 63-49 to retain the title they won during the championship in Dar-es-salaam last year. The team which arrived back in the Country yesterday is now expected to represent the zone during the forthcoming championship final tour slated for Angola from 3rd November 2017.
At the same time KPA's Natalie Akinyi Mwangale was voted the most valuable player (MVP) and also the most outstanding Point guard in the weeklong championship. The 24 year old player was awarded two trophies in recognition of her sterling performance during the closing ceremony.
Back at home, news for the team's success was received with jubilation with messages of congratulations inundating cellphones from all corners. "Thank you and Congratulations" was a short text message from the Managing Director Mrs. Catherine Mturi -Wairi in response to the news about the teams' final performance.
In the men's category, national league Champions, KPA clinched the bronze medal (third position) after hammering Betway Power of Uganda 75-53 in their last match. This was viewed by many as an accomplished revenge mission by the Dockers considering that they had earlier lost to the same team with 60-73 points. The two teams met again in their final game on Saturday at 1500 hrs to determine the third and fourth position holders.
In recognition of the success, KPA men team was also presented with a trophy and all the players awarded medals. The outcome of this game was a big disappointment to the Ugandans who had exuded confidence to drown the Dockers hands down. However, this was never to be as KPA never looked back, leading all through the four quarters of the match.
And during the women finals which saw the indoor arena fully packed, KPA women fate to retain the title still lay on a limbo owing to their loss of 69-68 to Uganda Christian University (UCU) in an earlier match. KPA had to beat Equity Bank with more than eight points to emerge the champions considering that Equity had floored UCU 74-66.
A tactful move by KPA head coach Anthony Ojukwu to ensure that the margin between the two teams did not go beyond 14 points saved Equity Bank from relegation to a third position. At minus eight difference the Bankers would automatically have given chance to UCU to become runners-up.
KPA Basketball teams
Women:
Brenda Angeshi Jumba(Captain),Natalie Akinyi Mwangale,Selina Adongo Okumu,Yvonne Akinyi Odhiambo,Blandine Muleka Ndaya,Felmas Adhiambo Koranga,AnneRose Mandela Atieno,Betty Kananu Maithima,Yolanda Mosea Ngoy,Brigid Nanzala Nyongesa, Georgia Adhiambo Otieno,Irene AkinyiMunyanye,Lucy Immacuate Ohanga,Lilian tieno Adera.
Head Coach: Anthony Ojukwu
Men:
Samuel Ochola Owele,Victor Otieno Odendo,Arou Ramadhan Chan,Joseph Ouma,Tobias Onyango Nyidha,Tom Bush wamukota,Ariel Okal Koranga,Moses Odhambo Wanjara,Martin Anthony Kitongo,Evan Kipchirchir Leting,Victor Maisiba Bosire,Alex Nisasse Ramzan,Daniel Omondi Kodhe, Victor Onyango Ochieng.
Coach: Samuel Kiki