This archive report was first published on 6 September 2019.
Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) teams are gearing up for a series of tough matches in the Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) Women's Premier League and the men's Premiership.
On September 7-8, 2019, the KPA women's team will host Tangit Sparks and Storms at the KPA Hall Makande in Mombasa, seeking to maintain their unbeaten home record.
According to KPA women's head coach Mike Opel, his team is in great shape and should have an easy time against Tangit Sparks, whom they comfortably defeated by over 30 points in their first leg encounter in Nairobi.
Opel also expressed confidence in his team's ability to turn the tables against Storms, who beat them by a half basket in their first leg match in Nairobi.
"So many things have changed since the first leg matches in Nairobi with our players, a majority who were new, slowly learning the ropes and getting acquainted with our style of play," said Opel, a former Kenya international forward.
Opel mentioned that internationals Hilda Indasi, Vilma Achieng, Becky Nkatha, Seline Okumu, Debra Atieno, Christine Akinyi, Beryl Aoko, Beryl Milungo, and Natalie Akinyi are all in good shape and ready to play.
Other players expected to feature for KPA are captain Brenda Angeshi, Donasama Omulo, and Rachel Wandago.
Meanwhile, the KPA men's team will face tricky Premiership fixtures against Thunder on September 7 and Equity Bank on September 8 at the KPA Hall Makande.
KPA coach Sammy Kiki is confident that his team has come of age and is ready to overturn their first leg home defeats to Thunder and Equity Bank.
"We lost to both Thunder and Equity Bank in Mombasa because we had not yet settled on a winning team after several players left our team last season. Things have since changed with the team posting back-to-back wins in their last assignments thus getting the much-needed confidence," said Kiki.
