NAIROBI, KENYA June 16 – Kenya basketball champions Nairobi City Thunder (NCT) are motivated to up their competition at the Basketball Africa League (BAL) season 7 after receiving a Ksh 10 million preparation boost.
Speaking on Tuesday, June 16, during the unveiling of the season-long deal with I&M Bank Limited, NCT center player Tom ‘Bush’ Wamukota said the support comes in handy as the two-time national champions aim to start early preparations for the BAL.
“This partnership means a lot to us as players because it shows that our work is being recognized at the highest level. Having I&M Bank behind Nairobi City Thunder gives us extra motivation to compete hard, represent the badge well, and make our supporters proud throughout the season,” he said.
The NCT is the only club to represent Kenya at BAL, qualifying twice but has yet to reach the playoffs.
In season six, Thunder finished fifth at the Kalahari Conference hosted at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria, South Africa, managing to win two out of the five games, winning against hosts Johannesburg Giants and eventual champions RSSB Tigers of Rwanda.
“We are proud to stand with Nairobi City Thunder at a time when the club continues to raise the standard of basketball not just in Kenya, but also across the region. This partnership reflects our commitment to supporting homegrown excellence, investing in youth, and building meaningful connections with communities through sport,” I&M Regional CEO, Kihara Maina, said.
The club’s CEO & Founder, Colin Rasmussen, termed the partnership a statement of belief from the bank, adding that they hope to build on it to give their fans the perfect experience.
“When people think about basketball, they see the players. What they don’t always see is the ecosystem around it – creators, businesses, event staff, media professionals, and young entrepreneurs. Partnerships like this help grow that entire ecosystem. We are delighted to launch this partnership as it provides essential resources and enhances our operational capacity,” Rasmussen said.
Under the agreement, I&M Bank will receive back-of-jersey branding on all game jerseys.
