Eldonets head coach Maurice Ouma will be hoping to register back to back wins when they host their rivals Emyba in the men’s Kenya Basketball Premier League this Saturday at the Uasin Gishu High school Court in Eldoret.
Last weekend, Eldonets won their first match of the season against Lakeside 68-66 in Kisumu and Ouma is hoping to register his win in the first match at home. Since the league began four weeks ago, Eldonets have been playing away and lost the opener to champions Ulinzi and Kenyatta University before winning the third match.
“Winning in Kisumu is not easy. We had to play our game and we had to play cautiously. No team has come out of that hall with all points but we managed. They even ended the unbeaten run for Ulinzi,” said Ouma.
This will be the third time the two teams will be meeting in the league with Eldonets winning two and losing one by a basket.
“We believe that God will guide us to victory. A game is not won during the game day but good preparations can win a game easily. So we are preparing well for the game and being the first one at home this season, we have to do our best,” said Ouma.
Eldonets have dominated against their Saturday rivals. In the first incidence, they faced off during the promotion play-offs in a three match tier where they won two out of three, one at home and one in Nairobi. The duo had already qualified to play into the premier league.
“After us dominating in the Division One play-offs, we met at the league and we won at home before falling at their backyard, and we are good at home,” said Ouma.
In other men premier league matches, Ulinzi, who lost 61-59 to Lakeside will be facing off with Terror on Saturday and Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) on Sunday at Nyayo Gymnasium. Nairobi Thunder hosts Kenya College of Accountancy (KCA) university as Blades play KPA while Kenyatta University Pirates tackle Umoja at the same venue.
As Eldonets men face Emyba, their women counterparts Eldonets Ladies will be squaring it out with Foot Prints in Division One at the same venue.
Western Delights will be hosting double matches over the weekend. In the opening match, they will be playing Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) on Saturday at KPA Hall before facing Swift at the same venue.
In women’s premier league, Storms will tackle two opponents, starting with KPA and the University of Nairobi Dynamites.
KBF fixtures
Men’s premier league
Saturday
- Terror vs Ulinzi- Nyayo
- Nairobi Thunder vs KCA University- Nyayo
- Blades vs KPA- KPC
- Eldonets vs Emyba- Uasin Gishu
Sun
- KU Pirates vs Umoja- Nyayo
- Ulinzi vs KPA- Nyayo
Women premier league
- Storms vs KPA- Nyayo
- UON Dynamites vs Storms- Nyayo
- Strathmore university vs KPA- Nyayo
Women Division One
Saturday
- Western Delights vs JKUAT- Nyayo
- Eldonets vs Foot Prints- Uasin Gishu
Sunday
- Kisii University vs JKUAT- Kisii University
- Western Delights vs Swift- KPA
- Safe Space vs Coastal Queens- KPA