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Newly-formed Mombasa Combined basketball team has received a big boost following the announcement of a sponsorship deal with Mombasa-based Machele Foundation.
The development is good news for the team, which is made up of a squad of 18 players from the original number of 30 who took part in the inaugural edition of Mvita Basketball tournament at the weekend.
According to Machele Foundation patron, Mohammed Soud who is behind the team’s formation, the squad, made up of players not featuring in any of the Kenya Basketball Federation league teams will be training at the newly-refurbished Makupa Lakers basketball courts.
“The whole idea is to tap raw talent and develop so that as many youths as possible can benefit in one way or the other through playing basketball. A majority of the players will not only join established league clubs but can also get direct employment from just playing the game,” he said.
During Mvita basketball tournament held at KPA Hall Makande, champions Weka Weka basketball team walked home Sh25,000 richer after beating a stubborn Mtopanga Finest 57-43 in a tough final.
Mtopanga who finished second got Sh15,000, while third-placed Makupa Lakers got Sh10,000 in the tournamernt which saw all the 12 participating teams get kits a basketball each.
The winners also got trophies courtesy of Machele Foundation.
In the final, Weka Weka started well, taking a deserved 19-12 first quarter lead but Mtopanga clawed their way back, forcing a 13-13 second quarter saw trailing their opponents 32-25 at the break with Robert Okongo nailing crucial three pointers for Mtopanga as their opponents relied on the big frames for inside play.
Collins Otieno scored a game-high 16 points for Weka weka.
