 Good afternoon and welcome back to the program. This is the touchline on Y-25. My name is Maxwell Waseeke. We took in matters basketball. We did it last weekend and we're doing it again. This particular weekend, trying to congratulate the boys, the Kenyamorans for their stalling performance during Afrokan Championship that happened in Bama Komali of Kenyamorans getting to the finals. Contrary to expectations, despite lack of proper preparations, lack of proper funding from the government, they defied all odds, performing very well and playing against the Democratic Republic of Congo in the finals and unfortunately they lost, but it's a fantastic show and in the studio I'm glad to be joined by two gentlemen, women integral part as far as the playing unit of the Kenyamorans is concerned. They were in Mali, Bama Komali and they featured prominently for the national team and they are here local alongside Valentin Yandik. Joining us this particular afternoon, Ariel, good afternoon. I'm good to be with us. Good afternoon. Shukuru. I'm good. I'm doing fine. Valentin, kikanya put so sorry to the team that you, both of you feature for, is the one dominating. They contributed immensely to national team. What has been the secret at KPA? At KPA, the management is committed to the players welfare and we have a nice gym in Mombasa and good training conditions. I know this particular afternoon you have a game we shall be coming onto that, but before we do, how is the experience? What was the feeling representing the country donning the national team colors and featuring in continental competition? Well, the feeling is great. The dream of every basketball is to play for the national team. That comes first. If you ask any baller, they will tell you that they want to don the national colors and represent the flag. So for us, me and him actually we were called to the team together. We've been playing together for a long time. So for us, the experience was great and we were talking about winning. So when we went out there in Mali, it was great. We didn't expect to go that far. It was great. So for us, it's like a dream come true. Dream come true. The strategy that you think played very well for the morants because you entered into the tournament as underdogs, but defying all odds, just losing two games, I think the first one against Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo in the finals and you know, winning against the aviwates of the tournament like Morocco. What was the strategy? Our strategy was to play a first game because as Kenyans, we are very athletic. And we also had no fear for anyone. So we approach every game because we are underdogs, but we go heads high. We have nothing to lose. So we play our best. Prior to that, were you subjected to that level of exposure playing at the big stage at the continental level and did you experience much stage fright? No, no, no. For my case and him, we've played the international tournaments before. And we've played in outside countries and I've played for the under 18 at Fibahafrika. And him too, we've played a lot of national team games. So it was, we were used to it and it was nothing new. Ariel, you know, Tailaoka is not here, but he was the MVP. What was his impact being in the squad? The guy is unbelievable. He's unbelievable. I remember against, we played Kodi 4 and we were tired at 85-85. So the coach drew a play and said, Taila, you're supposed to come this screen, you go over this side and then you take the ball on the other side and you make a play. Then the guy stopped the coach and he told the coach, you guys just give me the ball, get out of the way. Let me win this game for you guys. I was like, okay, the confidence, let me wait and see. And we were all like this watching, waiting, so 15 seconds to go. He takes the ball, I isolated one guy with the ball, with like a second to go, he made a shot and he made it. We won 87-85. That guy, he's a killer. That's what I can say. That's a certified killer. Is a killer. Do you think also, you know, the squad that comprises of players, featuring in local and overseas leagues, youth and experience, you know that blend, did it work for the team? Yeah, it worked pretty well because we had good leadership from the older guys. Then our local guys are also solid. And our internationals also brought the experience and gave us the much needed confidence. Coach Cliff or what can we say about him? Yeah, he's a pretty intense coach and he believes in us. So we have to believe too. And he really motivates us to get the win. And he goes for the win. He doesn't. He doesn't go like 50-50. When Valentin says that, you know, the coach believed in him, several times we've heard scenarios where players win for the coaches. Did the same situation happen for you? No, no, the guy prepared as well. On matters of preparing the players to go and compete, he did a great job. And then he planted seeds in our mind. Like, you guys are great. You guys are great. Mota, when we were living in the country, it was like... You have been reminded about the coast. Yeah, it's like he was just putting the winning, winning thing in our mind. Then they said, to see your Gopi, not to see the Rao. When we got there, they said, Apanatambuam. Because those countries, matters of basketball, they are big. So, when we got there, you know, guys were like, oh Kenya, but the coach is amazing, yeah. And in terms of, you know, establishment structures of those countries that you participated in Afrokan Championship, facility wise, what did you learn especially from the host country, Mali? Do you think there is something that Kenya is supposed to learn from them if we have to get our basketball to another level? Yeah, yeah, we have to learn, we have much to learn from these countries. They have a good stadium in good condition. Even they are primary schools or secondary schools. They have like indoors and nice training facilities here. And you guys featured at the tender age under 18. Do you think the local stakeholders of the sport have put in place mechanisms to, you know, have you replaced when you get off the scene? Because, you know, youth structures are also paramount. Do you think enough has been done to ensure that when you exit the scene, we have the upcoming, the like upcoming valentine? I think that's where we go wrong. Like they feed the programs that are supposed to feed like the senior teams. When the guys get hold of the veterans and they leave the scene, we need to have like structures. Like in Mali, the schools, when the schools are closed, we found that the students have already been signed into different clubs in different sports, you know. So basketball, you find under 10, under 16, under 80. They are already training. We used to go to practice 8 a.m. in the morning and we used to find kids at the court. They have so many basketball courts and kids are there working. They are just working now. So you can see like the Malian team under 19 is beating teams in Rwanda. Yeah, they are beating there in Rwanda. The ladies, they are beating good teams. Egypt, they are beating Angolans. They are just, their programs are nice, you know. If we can copy a leaf, you can just copy half of that idea and bring it to our country. We can change the system from down there all the way up. And that will be an amazing thing for Kenyan basketball. And when we talk about feeder systems, what do you make of the institutional structures that have been put in place because several players have emanated from universities, Strathmore, USIU. I attended a school where a player who featured alongside you grief in Ligare was the tactician for university side. And you know, my body physique couldn't allow me to play basketball, but it was a huge follower of basketball. In terms of institutional structures, have they been put in place to ensure that it's all systems go? Yeah, okay. We have a few universities who take us so seriously, like Strathmore and USIU. Yeah, they have good basketball teams. Yeah, they get guys from high school, give them scholarships, like good players, you know. So, they have a good team and the players get well developed. So I think that's a good thing and more and more of our institutions. So someone is not just playing basketball during kusa games for the sake of allowance, it's passion and love for the sport. KPA, let's talk about now the club you guys feature for. It has dominated basketball headlines for a while. Yeah, five years now we've just been winning. So this weekend we are winning as well? Yeah, we're winning by 15 as I said yesterday. Which team are you playing against? Our arch rivals, Lindsey. But they know... It's an equally good side. Yeah, the results will be the same. The doc's man. Yeah, the results will be the same. Government funding. You know where I was watching the game from, some people expressing their dissatisfaction over how those who are supposed to fund federations how basketball has not been treated the same way other sporting disciplines have been treated. This time round they came through. We visited right Honore Boraila and he came through for us at the last minute. And as we said earlier, we want to thank them for that. However little the contribution was, so we had to get to Mali and they came through at the last minute. And we also have a Badua investment. The guys for my good. Yeah, they also came through for us at the last minute. And from there they even sent a guy to Mali with a beef. Yeah, Tuni Nyamasiyo. Yeah, he was with us from the first day to the last day. He was with us in Mali. Ensuring that as in Kenya can reach the proceedings. He was covering everything. When we came back we were received by the permanent secretary and the Nairobi governor. And we appreciate all the love. Going forward, I know this just a start and probably one of the best things we should look forward to. I know in the future there are other assignments. Should we look forward to equally good performance from you guys? Yes, yes. I think we should look forward to even a better performance. Because Badua investment they came like two weeks to the zone five championships. And we won it. That's just two weeks into the tournament. So what if we get more of these sponsors and investors in good time? It will be huge. So financial sponsorship is critical. It's very critical. Yes, everybody needs that. Because you cannot go to train to a facility like Kasarani if you don't have money. Training in Nyayo, the gym is good but it's not up to international standards. You can train in Nyayo but you cannot play in a gym like Nyayo when you go out of the country. So we need to be in a place like Kasarani so that we get used to it. So when you get out there you find that things are familiar. So with money we can prepare well. With money you can play a lot of friendlies out of the country and the players can even like they'll be in shape because they can get the better food, better supplements, the weight rooms and everything. But without money we'll just have to do with our famous stepo center. Valentine, is basketball well playing sport? Ya, it's a well-paying sport. It's a hitman. It's a hitman. Personally? Ya, if you play out of the country you'll really stick to it because it's rewarding. It's really rewarding. Maybe in Kenya we are yet to come to that but outside the country or in these bigger leagues it's really paying and as Kenyans we should go towards that. And you guys are ambitious looking forward to professional basketball featuring for overseas clubs? We already did that. You already did that but you are back home with KPS, still hopeful? Ya, I'm still hopeful but right now I don't want to go because of the NBA Africa thing. Club is the one who's representing Kenya from September. The games might be in Kenya or Mauritius so we are waiting for them to confirm. If we qualify we play in the 12th league 12th team league that they announced I think 2 days ago in Dakar. Ya. So if we do that it's going to be huge for Kenya. The competition is going to go on our child because only the champions represent the country out there. So the competition here is going to go up a little bit. A lot of sponsors will come in. So for us we don't want to go we want to stay and play a lot. We want to try and improve the image of the game at home first. Then these young kids they can come in and they can go maybe make it to the NBA. Valentine you read from the same script with him if a lucrative deal comes knocking on the door you will opt for it or otherwise? Ya money comes first. I knew it. Money comes first you will give it a preference. But the good thing this also leaks the timeline like the season shed alternates from the Kenyan season. Like right now we are in the off season from the leagues we played. So you are in Kenya but you are like on holiday but you can still play and keep yourself active. So also the timelines the seasons differ so you can play many leagues. Let's talk about the administration of basketball in the country. We've seen people at the helm trying to restore the lost glory of the sport bringing sanity. Polo Tula federation president people like Cynthia Mumbo Sports Connect C you are getting involved in the sport. Do you think that's the way to go and what do you make what do you assess of their show so far? They've been doing great they've been doing great not like before this time round the president of the federation and the treasurer Ya they have been with us from when we started practice we actually started this thing way back in 2015 Ya we started preparing way back in 2015 we went to South Africa with Cynthia we played a few games Nigeria, Mozambique and the South African team then we came back we won one game and Mozambique is a good country term of basketball Nigerian team and the Mozambican team those guys are good so when we went there we won one game so from that time up to now we've been preparing slowly by slowly when this time came they brought in the international players so the team was already beefed up and then we started it again from November playing again is Kamerun Uganda we lost both matches the Ghanaian team came to the country we played again Ghana leaving you through it Ya I remember what the game was and guys were like yo these guys you will float Ya at the continental stage so for us we were building something slowly by slowly and the federation guys were with us all the way so when the time came for the zone 5 championships in Uganda the guys were ready it was just a matter of time the guys were ready we traveled with the treasurer to Mali he was with us until maybe two days before the tournament ended because of commitments at home they were with us all the way here so you believe the federation has played its role very well Ya they've come in huge man even our chairman used to attend all our practices meet in the morning evening he was there personally to to motivate that gives moral boost to the team used to come at 6 a.m when you had practice at 6 a.m you used to show so you can see club competition locally I know KPA, Tanda KPA the champion they have dominated but do you think the other sides have given much needed competition so that it can be nutritious so that it's not a one team affair this year is different even Ulinzi Ya Ulinzi staff Tanda staff Emiba staff the blades Ikuti blades all of them are tough as usual as usual they play hard and tough so we have like six teams that can compete for the championship so this time round it's not it's not a presup for even as KPA we have lost to like three games right now Ya so it's not that easy it's not going to be easy for us all you know that like eventually we will win but it's not going to win this guy is optimistic you believe you will win as usual eventually eventually ultimately when the time comes we will win but the competition is tough we appreciate it this is it it's not going to be like a walk in the park like all the other time Ya this is it stuff the aspect of flood light games because Kenyan basketball fans are so passionate about the sport and during the live viewing of the final at Nyaya national stadium gymnasium you know huge fan turnout and even people calling upon the federation to introduce flood light games so that they can start showing up during evening hours do you think it's something that can work and grand improve the sport Ya sure it it will work out because like most fans maybe they don't about basketball but if there's fun around it like there's flood lights people having fun you know it's a friday it will attract more like even people who don't know like how many steps you need to be aware they will attend and watch because there's fun so you know sports is it's supposed to be like a fun thing that brings people together or a business you know it's not just about competing but it should be fun and the marketing aspect of the game is in itself is also paramount because when there is a game let's say today there are several games at Nyaya and you know there are no enlightenment programs people are not in the know so showing up in large numbers might also not be possible so marketing aspect of the game has it been enough in basketball? Lately since the Madgood TV came came through they've been marketing the games well and they show it live on Facebook ya and I think more of that should be done more of the marketing I will just before I forget to ask you this you know the morans at some point they were accused of you are you are you are only targeting three pointers and that probably led to you are down for Lagenes Democratic Republic of Kong do you think we agree that was your main undoing at some point no our main system of the game actually our secret was defense so we were our defense we our defense defensive rating was 99.0 offensive rating was 97.0 so if you look at the other teams defensive ratings we were ahead we were like the best team on defense so from defense if we get a stop we were scoring we were scoring a lot of points running running the flow getting buckets when they set their defense and we are coming to offense we had plays systems we were playing inside the system and inside the plays so from those plays we had very good shooters on the flow very good shooters players out there so big so it's not easy to get a bucket under the rim so since most of the guys we had are smart we were just moving the ball when you get an open shot from outside we make it but the finals sometimes you win sometimes you lose on a light note valentine someone told to play basketball height aerial ability is it significant to basketball as a sport for those seeking to play it yeah it's an advantage but it's not the only thing like we have short players who are solid like griefing the guy so it's not a must you be tall but you just have to be committed everybody has a strength you know even whether you are short you tall you can just put in work and the work ethic is everything the work ethic is everything as we wind up you have final thoughts going for the expectation and standards of the game what are you looking for to aerial i think right now the main goal even if we didn't win that championship it's like kenyan basketball won in general so for me looking forward guys are motivated out there from whatever little thing we did guys are motivated guys are putting in work and from where we are right now i don't think we are going to go down we are just going all the way up valentine your sentiments yeah i think by by performing well in in this past championship it was really huge because everyone is motivated even in our estate their kids were going out in the evening to play they're saying man so it feels like they are inspired if i play basketball in kenya i'm like a number two in africa you know they feel they belong you know it's not only angola or those other but now we feel everyone has the confidence everyone wants to play yeah it will really improve wow fantastic and once again congratulations for no spectacular performance in mani during afrokan championship they finished second behind democratic republic of kongoloki once again them in the finals and styling performance from the boys Ariel alongside valentine joining us this particular afternoon to tell us they experience that the continental stage playing at the big platform and their expectations going forward we shall be looking forward to see how you continue glittering for the national team right yeah thanks for coming through touchline is the shown why two five we continue of course we shall be coming up next with the fans on fan favorite segment and man united fans are very happy are in maguaya as joined them but no there is some question is he worth 80 million pounds that will be forming the base of our discussion don't go away stay tuned