Blades seek redemption after Zone Five failure

Strathmore Blades have shifted their focus back on the domestic scene following an unsuccessful assault at the FIBA Africa Zone Five in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Blades lost 53-71 to Smouha of Egypt in the quarter-finals and only managed one win at Zone Five thanks to their 101-45 crushing of Ethiopians Welkite in the preliminaries.

Head coach Tony Ochieng said his charges picked up valuable lessons from their debut appearance at the regional competition which he hopes they can use to spur their season.

“What we learnt in Tanzania we are carrying forward in the local games. Tactically we are well prepared and the team is in high spirits. We have to stop thunder from shooting because they are very good with that aspect of their game,” Ochieng said.

The students have played 17 matches thus far, winning 10 while losing the other seven and face Thunder at Nairobi’s USIU Grounds  over the weekend before wrapping up their Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) campaign with clashes against Lakeside and Equity bank.

Blades will miss the services of their key player, Brian Onyango who is out for three months due to ligament injury.

KBF FIXTURES

Saturday

Footprints VS Western Delight

KU ORYX VS Storms (WP) AT 12:00

Strathmore VS USIU (WP) AT 1:30AM

Thunder VS Blades (MP) AT 15:30,

Sunday

Masaku Sparks VS Western Delight (WP) AT 9AM

KU ORYX VS Footprints (WP) AT 1:30 (PM)

Strathmore VS Storms (WP) AT 3PM

USIU VS Western Delight (WP) at 4:30 PM

Equity Bank VS World Hope (MP)

KU ORYX VS Zetech (WP)