Equity Hawks embark on pre-season training with title defence top goal

Kenya Basketball League women defending champions Equity Bank popularly known as “Equity Hawks” has embarked on a pre-season training ahead of the 2019 league that is scheduled to tip off next month.

According to team head coach David Maina, the club is yet to make any new signings but he expects a lot of movements in either direction before action begin.

“We are back to training, we are not yet full house so I can’t say much about it since it’s the beginning of the season. We are yet to make any decision concerning transfers as we are not sure of who will be joining or leaving at the moment,” Maina added.

Equity won the women title last year defeating the then defending champs Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) in the finals play offs.

But even as the team gears up for the season with daily drills at Upper Hill in Nairobi, the overriding  goal is to defend the gong they won last term.

Though not certain of the talents that will remain in his roster, coach Maina will definitely not want to let go of power shooting guard Celina Okumu who bagged the Most Valuable Player in the playoffs last season. Okumu had previously featured for KPA in 2017 where she also won the gong, culminating in her move to Equity.

Other key players that Hawkers would not wish away are Betty Kananu, Belinda Akoth and Dennise Menya – who all played key roles in their title triumph last term.

The bankers will however need to beef up the squad if they are to go head-to-head with KPA who will be out to reclaim the title.

Storms who finished third and Strathmore who came out fourth last season are some of the teams who will be expected to mount a title challenge.

Last season for instance,  Equity finished the regular league with 39 points, with KPA coming second on 38 as Storms finished third with 37. Strathmore managed a fourth slot on 32.