This archive report was first published on 15 October 2019.
Kenya's Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) basketball team is facing a logistical nightmare as they prepare for the inaugural Basketball Africa League, which has been relocated from Mombasa to Madagascar.
The sudden change of venue by Fiba Africa has left the reigning Kenyan champions scrambling to adjust their plans, with the event set to tip off on October 28.
"We had an approval to hold the games in Mombasa and had made all arrangements just to be told last week that Fiba had opted to stage the event in Madagascar and not Kenya," KPA basketball team manager Christopher Ogutu told Nation Sport.
Despite the challenges, Ogutu remains optimistic that the team will be ready for the event, which will feature teams from Madagascar, Comoros, and Djibouti.
The Basketball Africa League is a joint effort between the National Basketball Association (NBA) and Fiba, with sponsorship from the Jordan Brand and Pepsi.
According to Fiba Africa's executive director, Alphonse Bile, the league will provide players with the opportunity to compete in the "best possible environment".
Former US President Barack Obama has expressed his support for the league, stating that it can be about "a lot more than what happens on the basketball court".
