Nairobi City Thunder will start their campaign to play at the NBA-backed Basketball Africa League (BAL) for the first time with the East Division qualifiers, which are scheduled for Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, from October 15-20.
The Kenyan champions will take on hosts Jeshi la Kujenga Taifa (JKT), Ethiopia’s Hawassa City, Beau Vallon of The Seychelles, Ushindzi of Comoros, Urunani of Burundi and GNBC of Madagascar in battling for only two slots available to qualify for the Elite 16.
Small forward Tyler Okari, a new signing from German side Niners Chemnitz, believes they can go all the way to win the Division and progress to the next round. But, he says, based on his experience, they need to be tight defensively.
Okari has previous experience playing at the BAL, having been signed by Ivory Coast side Abidjan Basket Club (ABC) for the 2023 season.
The BAL is a very tough tournament and teams are really giving a go at each other. I have told the boys that we need to be very tight, especially defensively. We need to run the floor really well, be tough on our rebounding and make sure we dominate and close out games early.
Thunder, who won last season’s Kenyan league, have already started their pre-season training, and with two weeks remaining, Okari, who has also previously played in the United States, says they are ready.
We have a very talented team and I believe we are very much ready. We have players with good experience and the synergy in the team is now top. We want to go all the way.
Thunder are coached by American tactician Brad Ibs and are making their debut in Continental Basketball.
