National champions Ulinzi Warriors start their campaign in the Basketball Africa League in Dar-es-salaam on Friday.
Warriors' coach William Balozi is upbeat about guiding his charges through from Group 'D' of the East Division to the last 16 slated for November/December.
Ulinzi have been drawn to battle ASCUT of Madagascar, Cobra Sport of South Sudan and Hawassa City of Ethiopia.
But reports from the Tanzanian port city yesterday indicated that only South Sudan, playing in their second event, had arrived in Dar.
“So far in our group, we are only two teams with South Sudan as the other,” said Balozi.
The technical meeting according to Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) secretary, Ambrose Kisoi, was set for Thursday evening.
The three-day event will also see Dar host Group E teams — Brave Hearts (Malawi), City Oilers (Uganda), Kurasini Heat (Tanzania) and New Stars (Burundi).
The Kenyan champions flew to Dar on Monday with a strong squad of 16 players and Balozi was due to name the final roster after his final training yesterday.
Ulinzi will be led by national team stars Eric Mutoro, Victor Bosire, Joseph Khaemba and Valentine Nyakinda, who joined from Tigers of Rwanda.
Other players in the squad are veteran Ancette Wafula, William Ochieng, Tiberius Menya, John Washika and James Mwangi.
Ulinzi hope to emulate Kenya Ports Authority by qualifying from the first phase. The ports men topped the event in Antananarivo, Madagascar in 2019.
