Malezi Basketball Shine In Seasons Opener

REPORT ON NSSSA PRE- SEASON TOURNAMENT

Zack Okong'o - Most Promising Player

Malezi School edged out Alliance B 23-17 to set up a shock defeat of favorites, UNICEF-sponsored Upperhill “A” 28-15 in the semi-finals, at the season’s Nairobi Secondary Schools Sports Association’s Basketball Season Opener held on the 21^st and 22^nd of January 2012 at Upperhill School. Although losing against Upperhill “B” in the finals 34-48, Malezi showed that they will be a serious team to reckon with, as schools prepare to compete to reach the finals of the national ball games this term. Malezi Captain, Zack Okong’o Basil, was voted Most Promising Player, with 13 points to his credit

DATE:            21^st -22^nd January`2012

VENUE:             Upper Hill School & Railway Club

FORMAT:     -    Four Pools, Two proceed to Quarter Finals

-        Winners in the Quarters proceed to the semis

-        Winners in semis, plays in the Final

NAME OF TEAMS AND POOLS

POOL A                                             POOL B

1. Upper Hill ‘A’                                1. Sunshine Secondary

2. Shimba Hills                                   2. Queen of Apostles

3. Mang`u `B’                                     3. Upper Hill `B’

4. Our Lay of Fatma                           4. Malezi School

5. Blue Hills Academy                       5. Eastleigh High

6. Kayole South

POOL C                                                         POOL D

1.     Mang`u `A’                                       1. Thika High

2.     Makini                                               2. Kenya Muslim

3.     Muhuri Muchiri                                  3. St. Marys School

4.     St. Marys Educational Centre             4. Lenana School

5.     Alliance`A’                                         5. Alliance `B’

RESULTS:     For Pool B, Quarters, Semis And Involving Malezi School.

TEAMS                                                          DATE

Game 1           Upper Hill `B’ vs Malezi                               21^st /1/2012

                        09/09               06/08

                        Final Score     28-14

Game 2           Queen of Apostles vs Malezi                         21^st /1/2012

                        00/08                           12/10

                        Final Score:                08-22

Game 3           Sunshine         vs Malezi                                21^st /1/2012

                        01/02               04/09

                        Final Score     03- 13

Game 4           Malezi vs Eastleigh                                        22^nd / 1/2012

                        16/17               02/10

Game 5           Quarters Finals

                        Alliance `B’ vs Malezi                                   22^nd /1/2012

                        08/09               13/10

                        Final Score 17-23

Game 6           Semi Finals

                        Upper Hill `A’ vs Malezi                               22^nd /1/2012

                        02/11                           13/15

                        Final Score 15 – 28

Game 7           Finals

                        Upper Hill `B’ vs Malezi                               22^nd /1/2012

                        15/09/14/10                09/12/07/06

                        Final Score: 48           -           34

            Our scores in the Finals.

            Zack Okong`o - 13 points

            Lino Manyiel – 6 points

            Emmanuel Atega – 2 points

Individual Awards

            Zack Okong`o – voted the most promising player

Awards: Winners & Runner up were given Trophies and Medals.

PREPARED BY

Joseph AMOKO

COACH.

Hassan Ndayashimiye, former student trains tennis lovers at Sadili Oval

 Sadili Oval Sports Academy in Lang’ata, Nairobi, was a hive of activities as the young and old gathered to gain tennis lessons from an alumni. South Africa-based and former Sadili Oval and Malezi School tennis ace Hassan Ndayashimiye made the practice session possible. Ndayashimiye, who left Sadili Oval on a tennis scholarship to South Africa four years ago, trained players. The players involved those at Sadili Oval and also from neighbouring schools. The sessions involved ball control, court runs, hits, positive thinking and other fitness levels.

The Burundian said he saw it possible to come and give back to Sadili that nurtured his tennis career on top of a prestigious scholarship that he was awarded when he was very young. "The training I got at Sadili has enabled me to win championships in South Africa. Furthermore, I have reached the Wimbledon main draw because of the skills I learnt here," said Ndayashimiye, 17, who was accompanied by his sponsor Kassie Mcilvaine.

"It was nice being here at least for a day to impart what I have learnt to these children. My advice is that they should be focused and be ready to work very hard towards achieving their goals in tennis," added Ndayashimiye, who is currently ranked 27 in World Junior category. He recently reached the third round in an African tennis event in Morocco before moving to win a championship in Tunisia.

He says the greatest challenge to many young upcoming players is ability to amass points. "It’s (amassing points) a tedious process that needs discipline and perseverance, one needs to attend as many ranking tournaments as possible," he added.

Sadili Oval CEO Liz Odera congratulated Ndayashimiye for giving back to the centre that developed him. "It’s great to have him (Ndayashimiye) back, he started training here at age nine. He is now going places. Training in South Africa and Europe has made him even sharper," Odera said.

Meanwhile, Sadili Oval Centre has many tournaments and activities lined up in their calendar this year, beginning with the Smashers Challenge Cup on January 28.

Notable Tournaments Played:

Wimbledon (Juniors)
US Open (Juniors)
Roland Garros (Juniors)
Orange Bowl 
Eddie Herr Junior tournament 
Astrid Bowl