Kenya Morans hope to intensify their training this week as they await the arrival of the diaspora-based players to join the team, assistant coach Collins Gaya said yesterday.
The tactician said plans are underway to have a series of friendly matches in readiness for the FIBA Afro-Can tournament slated for July 8-16 in Luanda, Angola.
A provisional list of 29 players, including nine from the other leagues was named a week ago by the Kenya Basketball Federation. Already local-based players are having weekly training.
Morans on Friday evening played their first friendly match against a Streets League Combined side at the Nyayo National Stadium gymnasium, winning the tie 114-86.
"The friendly was good for us. It exposed some weaknesses that we need to work on going forward. We will do that in our sessions starting Monday," noted Gaya.
"The offence was a little bit alright but the defence showed we need to do a bit more. We have many layups and we need to clean this up."
In the friendly game, Morans' experienced members of the team led by guards Griffin Ligare, Victor Bosire and Victor Ochieng sat out, giving new call-ups an opportunity to showcase their talents.
New lineups included Ariel Ortega, Brans Nzoka, Joseph Gitau Elisha Odhiambo and Disma Mbaka.
Morans, who went down 82-61 to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the gold medal game, are in Pool A alongside Gabon.
The other team in the group will be named after a playoff between Zone Two Guinea and teams from Zones Three.
Hosts Angola, who finished third in Bamako, will face off against Mali and the team to be awarded a wildcard in Group B.
Group C will be complete with Morocco who were fourth in the last championship and the winners of Zone 1 and Zone 5 qualifiers. Group D had current champions DRC who will play Mozambique and Cameroon.
Algeria and Tunisia will fight for Zone One solo tickets while Zone Five representatives will be known after the ongoing qualifiers in Tanzania.
Pool A: Kenya, Gabon, Zone Two qualifier.
Pool B: Angola, wild card and Mali
Pool C: Morocco, Zone Five and Zone One representative.
Pool D: DRC, Mozambique and Cameroon
