Diani Sharks crowned Kwale County Basketball tournament

Diani Sharks emerged winners of the inaugural 'Hoops for Harmony' basketball tournament held at the Word of Life basketball court in Diani, Kwale County.

In what was a tight final, Diani Sharks used their home court advantage to edge out their fierce rivals Kwale Swingers to win 22-10 to become the first winners of Kwale County's first proper basketball competition.

Finals MVP Dominic Oliech was unstoppable and untouchable in the final, dominating every duel and putting their derby rivals to the sword with a physical display of technical basketball.

The tournament sponsored by Kwale County Government's Department of Tourism, Trade and Enterprise attracted a total of 8 teams drawn from all parts of Kwale County.

Basketball has for years been one of the most popular games in Kwale County with schools in the region constantly posting impressive results in the KSSSA games.

The challenge has always been finding a way to transition these talents into a more professional setting.

The passion for the sport was evident in the large crowds that came to watch the events unfold. The players themselves did not disappoint by putting up scintillating displays of competitive basketball.

From the start of the day it was obvious that the tournament was set to deliver a spectacle for the ages, and set the pace for all future basketball tournaments in Kwale County.

The round robin games clearly showed all the work put in by teams in the region to create more professional basketball outfits in Kwale County.

All ties ended up becoming battles to see who would qualify for the semi finals.

The two schools teams, Waa High School and Kaya Tiwi Secondary School who had been seen as potential underdogs, shocked all and sundry by holding their own against bigger and more professional opponents.

At the end of it all however, only four teams remained standing at the semi-final stage.

The hosts Diani Sharks were up against the more fancied Mariakani Jets, while Kwale Swingers would have to get past the Kinango basketball juggernaut in the battle for bragging rights.

Swingers' third quarter domination saw them book their place in the final where they would come up against the hosts Diani Sharks who defeated Mariakani Jets in a controversial semi-final.

As if reading from a pre determined script, Diani Sharks withstood all the Kwale Swingers pressure to make sure that the trophy remained in Diani.

Speaking to Citizen Digital, the Kwale County Government CECM for Tourism, Trade and Enterprise, Michael Mutua expressed his delight at the success of the first tournament.

"We have launched this basketball tournament to help our youth in Kwale County engage themselves in more productive activities. As the name suggests, Hoops for Harmony is intended to use sports as a tool for promoting peace in Kwale County," observed Mutua.

The tournament was also used as a springboard to launch basketball as a way to promote sports tourism in Kwale County.

"Diani is the home of tourism in Kenya. We believe as a county, we can use the location advantage we have to attract sponsors, stakeholders and more basketball teams to have bigger and more competitive basketball tournaments in the future. This was just the start and there is much more coming," he added.

There were cash prizes for the top three teams and the final MVP, while the winners and the runners up both took home new sets of basketball kits and balls.