Nairobi City Thunder will miss two key players this weekend when they play two Kenya National Basketball League matches at the Nyayo Stadium gymnasium.
The two are captain Griffin Ligare and forward James Mwangi, who are in Serbia for the Red Bull 3x3 finals series. However, Thunder have enough cover following a massive recruitment.
They have already made a huge statement after blanking Africa Nazarene University 98-55 last week.
Head coach Brad Ibs said he was impressed by his players’ display in their first outing. He said: “We played with great pace, skill and very unselfish team-oriented style of basketball.”
Thunder will take on United States International University (USIU) Tigers on Saturday before meeting self-supporting Umoja a day later.
Moses Alier will parade against his old team that also boasts deadly three-point shooters in Ken Wachira, Faisal Aden and Ariel Ortega, who dropped a game-high 21 points against the Wolfpacks.
Tigers coach George Mayienga, who will miss Ortega, admitted predicted a tough weekend for his newly-promoted side as they tackle giants Thunder and Equity Bank.
“I have lost seven players and will mainly use the new players, who joined in from high school. I am busy with a long-term rebuilding of the team,” said Mayienga.
The other matches on the card will see newly-promoted Absa make their top-tier debut against former national champions Ulinzi Warriors.
The soldiers, who thrashed Strathmore University Blades 53-40 in their opener, will rely on Eric Mutoro and Elisha Odhiambo.
The top ladies matches will see Storms take on newbies TH3 Swish and Equity Bank Hawks confront USIU Flames on Sunday.
There will be 10 Lower Division matches on the card at the USIU courts as well as in Butere where the national schools champions host Western Delight.
