Fixtures | Tuesday, November 18
- Ferroviario da Beira vs. BraveHearts – 1:00 pm
- Dar City vs.Matero Magic – 3:30 pm
- Nam Blazers vs. Nairobi City Thunder – 6:00 pm
Following the conclusion of the Road to BAL 2026 Division West tournament that saw Libyan side Al Ahly Benghazi and Jeuness Club d’Abidjan (JCA) of Côte d’Ivoire advance to next year’s BAL, focus turns to Division East.
The Division East tournament tips off on Tuesday at the Moi International Sports Center in Kasarani and the Blazers will battle hosts Nairobi City Thunder.
While Namuwongo as a team will be playing at this level for the first time, they have experienced players on the roster who have been there before and coach Stephen Nyeko will be banking on them to lead the way.
“The guys have been good in practice but I want to see that translate in the game [against Nairobi City Thunder],” Nyeko told Kawowo Sports.
Tonny Drileba, Jimmy Enabu, James Okello and Ivan Muhwezi experienced the demands of Elite 16 with City Oilers while Jovan Mooring got a feel of the physical demands of the African game with MBB during the Nile Conference in Kigali.
Jaycson Bereal Jr showed glimpses of his offensive game in the tough match-up against Dar City during the group phase and now the stakes are even higher.
On the other side, the Thunder, who are hosting a second Elite 16 tournament in a row, maintained the core of the squad that set history to become the first Kenyan team to qualify for the Basketball Africa League last year.
Lebanese power forward of South Sudan descent Ater Majok is back with the side to join the usual suspects in forward Tylor Ongwae, shooting guard Albert Odero, point guard Eugene Adera, flying Garang Ding, mechanical combo guard Derrick Ogechi and journeyman Ariel Okall.
Chase Adams, Lance Thomas and Bramwel Muchina were signed not just to bolster coach Brad Ibs’ league-winning squad but to make sure the Thunder run it back and qualify for BAL for a second season in a row.