Kenya’s 3x3 basketball teams begin training ahead of Commonwealth Games

The national 3x3 basketball teams have begun training at the Kasarani Indoor arena, in preparation for the upcoming Commonwealth Games to be held in Birmingham, United Kingdom.

The two Kenyan sides which consist of seven men and seven ladies will be in camp for seven weeks having been handed direct qualification tickets as the second top ranked African team. This format of basketball will be making its first appearance at the Commonwealth Games this year and team Kenya is keen on making a mark.

The women's team will be banking on the experience of Lionesses’ captain Melissa Akinyi and the exceptional Natalie Akinyi, and Jemimah Otieno, to lead charges as they seek glory during games slated to begin in July 28th through August 8th 2022.

In the male team, Faheem Juma who was part of the team that brought glory to the country during the AfroCan championships in 2019 is also in camp together with Larry Shavanga, Deryl Omondi, Gabriel Onyango and David Odanga.

“The first day of training has been good, we’re getting to know each other as a team and from this session it is safe to say we will gel in fast. The coach is a familiar person to the team and therefore we are dealing with someone in whose philosophy we believe. We also appreciate the fact that we have been offered the best court for our preparations, we will do our very best” shared Shavanga.

Speaking after the training session, coach Tony Ochieng expressed optimism that the team will be ready for the Games.

 “The team is doing very well; at the moment we are in the preparation stage where we have factored different aspects in place to ensure we prepare exhaustively for the seven weeks before the Commonwealth Games,” Tony Ochieng said.

Kenya will be playing against Canada, Sri Lanka, Great Britain, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Lucia, New Zealand and Australia.

Other teams in camp include hockey, cycling, wheelchair basketball. Others are judo, boxing, weightlifting, and power lifting.