NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 22 – Ulinzi Warriors head coach Bernard Mufutu has challenged his players to improve on their offence as they take on Kenya Ports Authority in the men’s basketball Premier League this weekend.
Warriors have lost back to back matches for the first time this season, last weekend’s shock defeat to Absa coming hot on the heels after another loss to University lads Strathmore.
“We need to do better in our offence and take the chances we had. We need to shoot better. Back to back defeats of course bring a lot of pressure, and this being the second leg when we are chasing a good play-off slot, we need to ensure we get wins,” the tactician said.
Ulinzi are currently placed fifth in the KBF Men’s Premier League standings, and their target is to push into the top three at least, to get a favourable draw in the quarter finals of the play-off.
They face off a difficult duel away to KPA in Mombasa, with the dockers looking to avenge the first leg defeat they suffered in Nairobi.
The military men will be boosted with the return of point guard Tiberias Menya, who missed last weekend’s defeat to Absa due to illness.
Meanwhile in other matches set for this weekend, league leaders and unbeaten Nairobi City Thunder will take on second placed Equity Dumas on Saturday evening, in what is expected to be a top of the table blockbuster.
The well-oiled and hugely talent-laden Thunder have won all their 15 matches this season and sit on top with 30 points, while the Dumas are five points behind. They were beaten in the first leg, and will be keen to ensure they make amends.
Meanwhile in other fixtures, Absa, with confidence from last weekend’s win over Ulinzi, will play Kenyatta University Pirates at Nyayo, while University of Nairobi’s Terror face Umoja.
In the Women’s Premier League, defending champions Kenya Ports Authority will look to get back to the top of the log with back to back matches in Mombasa, when they take on USIU Flames on Saturday and JKUAT on Sunday.
The duel against USIU will pit the dockers against their former guard, Hilda Indasi, who has returned to USIU at the start of the second leg.
Equity Hawks will meanwhile look to rake in maximum points and move to second with Zetech uninvolved this weekend. The bankers, who have recently heavily recruited in the second leg, will take on Africa Nazarene University on Saturday and Strathmore Swords on Sunday, both matches at noon at Nyayo.
