Nairobi City Thunder, wey don win Kenya Basketball Federation Premier League three times, don set dia eyes for di Basketball Africa League trophy afta dem collect domestic titles for 2024, 2025 and 2026. Head coach Brad Ibs and general manager Kooshin Diriye talk di club continental plans for Citizen TV Sporty Monday.
Thunder become di first Kenyan club to qualify for di BAL, but dia first two campaigns show di gap between local competition and Africa top clubs. Ibs say di experience don serve as reality check against sides wey get bigger budgets, deeper squad and better access to international talent.
"We really wan some hardware from di BAL dis coming season. Dat na our main focus now," Ibs tok, add say: "E be great mirror for us to just look at ourselves and no become too overconfident with local success."
Di coach also point for di need to get stronger domestic competition, cite Rwanda wia top sides dey compete at high level as dem prepare for continental play.
Off di court, Diriye reveal say dem don shift players enta full-time professional roles so dem go fit focus on basketball instead of balancing di sport with oda work. "If player don think about how to feed im family and all dat oda stuff, dat go be big problem," e tok.
Di club dey invest for young Kenyan players under 21 and dem get plan to build dedicated Thunder facility, so dem go reduce di way dem depend on Nyayo Stadium and Kasarani.
