Okall Keen To Beef Up Nairobi City Thunder Title Charge

Kenya men's basketball national team Morans power forward Ariel Okal has backed high-flying Nairobi City Thunder to challenge for the men’s Kenya National Basketball (KNBL) Premier League  title this season.

The former Kenya Ports Authority veteran, who has plied his trade abroad for the better part of the last five seasons is the latest high-profile name to join the Thunder, who occupy the top seed in the KNBL standings.

His roots in Kenyan basketball can be traced back to his time with the Dockers, where he helped them clinch two top-flight titles.

Okall’s recent brief stint with Burundian side Dynamo BBC capped a glittering journey in the past five seasons, during which won the Omani league title with Al Bashaer and also achieved similar success with Don Bosco Savio in Tanzania

Okall says the team’s newly revamped setup under the guidance of a strong coaching staff will propel the organization to new heights, including a serious title charge in the domestic league.

"I decided to join Thunder because I believe they have a well-organized team this time around," Okal explained.

The sense of familiarity that comes with the heavy-hitters was an added motivation, as a majority of his former teammates and national counterparts constitute the Thunder setup.

“I have some of my former teammates and national teammates playing for the same team, so I thought I'd feel at home being there, and that was actually part of the motivation for me joining the Thunder basketball team,” he added.

Under the guidance of a strong coaching staff, Okal is confident that Thunder is a serious contender.

“With their coaching staff, I think we are serious contenders, and I know we will be in the finals,” he said.

With a career that spans both local leagues and international arenas, Okal has emphasized his focus on improvement and adding value to the team.

“I want to go there and do my job and help the team win a couple of games, win the championship, and help them achieve their goal this season." He explained.

Okal firmly believes that Thunder's current model is the way forward for Kenyan basketball clubs, encouraging other teams to follow suit.

“The current thunder model on and off the court, the way they are managing their players and giving them contracts—I think that's something other things should emulate, and that's the only way we are going to improve basketball in this country.

“If other teams copy what Thunder is doing, this league is going to be tough to play, and players from outside will want to come back and play at home,” he reckoned.

Okal also acknowledged the difficulty in juggling coaching duties for the Nakuru-based Swish women's basketball team alongside playing responsibilities with Thunder.

"It's going to be difficult for me, but I'll find the balance between the two with my hard work," he affirmed.

With a career spanning both the local and international leagues, Okal will be keen to apply his enduring experience to help his new side hit new levels of success.