Zetech University Sparks have pulled out of the FIBA Africa Zone Five Women’s Club Championship slated for Kigali, Rwanda later this month, officials confirmed yesterday.
Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) competitions secretary, Joseph Amoko, yesterday revealed that the varsity side have written to them, confirming their withdrawal from the tournament.
“We received a letter from Zetech University yesterday saying the team is not able to participate in the Zone Five club championship in Rwanda,” said Amoko.
“As a result, the federation has moved fast and named Equity Bank Hawks as their replacement in the event. We have already alerted the regional body secretariat of the change.”
The sensational Sparks shut out Hawks 3-1 in the Kenya National Basketball League (KNBL) Playoff semi-finals. They lost 3-0 to eventual winners KPA in the final.
Amoko said the regional tournament, earlier slated for October 21-28, has now been pushed back by a week and will now run from October 28 to November 4 at the BK Arena.
Kenya will send two teams to the week-long show with 15-time champions KPA leading the way in the event.
The two Kenyan giants also represented the country in last year’s campaign in Dar-es-salaam, Tanzania, where KPA lost to Egyptian side Alexandria Sports Club (ASC) in the finals. The Hawks were placed fifth.
KPA and ASC qualified to represent the zone in the FIBA Africa Women’s Club Championship in Maputo, Mozambique, and the Egyptian powerhouse claimed the continental title.
KPA women’s coach Anthony Ojukwu said they have already started their training for the event with Mombasa-based players. Nairobi-based players are expected to link up with the rest soon.
