Kenya Team |Rule puts Kenya women in all Africa games

Kenya's Luchivya against Uganda's Mulwana in a past action in Wandegeya, Kampala

The Kenya National Women’s basketball team has automatically qualified for the 2011 All Africa Games. This is all thanks to a new rule from FIBA that allows the top five teams in the tournament to automatically qualify for the next championships. Kenya finished fifth in the last games held in Algeria. Other automatic qualifiers are Champions Mozambique, runner-up Senegal, second runner-up Nigeria and Angola who were fourth.

However, a spot-check within the basketball circles by Alsa Basketball reporters confirmed that, despite the overwhelming feeling of "qualifying” for the 2010 All Africa Games, some fans, players and even coaches are skeptical about this kind of qualification, with a common stand and questions coming out clearly:

Qualification is one thing, but is Kenya ready? Or will Kenya be ready for the games? Considering our (Kenya’s) consistency in last minute preparations?

From within the country, the Basketball Federation, or should it be “………….. The National Basketball Team Management….” can come up with a team that can make an impact in the 2011 games. Lets not think 2011 is so far away, as its just months away; And seriously, new rule or not, the Women’s team needs to start preparing for the games NOW!

There should'nt be an excuse for NOT participating in tournaments locally and regionally; and if none, international friendly games can be fixed. And don’t forget that the Federation could also consider bringing in some Kenyan internationals playing in the Diaspora, the likes of Josephine Owino (below), Gladys Wanyama, Rose Ouma, Judith Obiero, to beef up the locally assembled squad!

Currently, the Kenya’s Women’s Basketball has been ranked 58th in the World with 4.2 points. This puts them at 13th position in Africa behind Nigeria (20), Senegal (22), Mali (23), Tunisia (29), Mozambique (35), DRC (38), Angola (39), Cote D’Ivoire (50), Cameroon (54), and Algeria and Cape Verde tied at position 56 in the world.

However, the 4.2 points is nothing compared to top three ranked teams; USA with 1140.0 points, Russia with 923.0, and Australia with 899.0 points.
Women's basketball in the country had come off age, with both the National Team and Clubs being a force to reckon with in the East African region and Africa. That was before something WENT TOTALLY WRONG!

In 1994, the Kenya national women's side was the only African team that participated in the World Championships in Australia. Rather than hit the peak from that outing 15 years ago, the women's game seemed to have plummeted to an all time low- at least going by the latest results posted at international meets.

Kenya Basketball……THE TIME TO WAKE UP IS NOW! The notion that Kenya basketball is a force to reckon with in the East African region is LONG GONE, especially after a clear shift of power play, performance and enhanced love for the game in Rwanda and Uganda……..with Burundi following suit, and Tanzania regrouping after one of their’s…Hasheet Thabeet got drafted to the NBA.

And Not so-funny-enough……….. you don’t need to ask WHY! Because the answer is simply…...MANAGEMENT-ACCOUNTABILITY-PROFESSIONALISM-MARKETING!

Source:alsaBasketball/ agencies
Photos: alsaINTERACTIVEMEDIA

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