Equity Bank's title exploits have David Maina over the moon
Equity Bank coach David Maina lifts the Kenya Basketball Federation women's Premier League trophy with team captain Samba Mjomba after beating KPA in game five of the Best-of-Five series finals on February 13, 2017 at Nyayo Stadium. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |
What you need to know:
- Maina reckons that good defence and focused attack are what carried his team to their first ever top flight title, just two years after joining the top tier.
- Equity Bank, fondly known as the Hawks, defeated favourites Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) 73-68 in the decisive game five of the Best-of-Five series final duel at the Nyayo National Stadium gymnasium.
- The two teams had battled to a 2-2 tie before the nervy final series.
Equity Bank coach David Maina is over the moon after leading the bankers to their maiden Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) Women’s Premier League title on Monday night.
Maina reckons that good defence and focused attack are what carried his team to their first ever top flight title, just two years after joining the top tier.
Equity Bank, fondly known as the Hawks, defeated favourites Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) 73-68 in the decisive game five of the Best-of-Five series final duel at the Nyayo National Stadium gymnasium. The two teams had battled to a 2-2 tie before the nervy final series.
Equity’s victory was a good end to their fairy-tale story that saw them win the National League in 2014, the year the club was formed, before finishing third in the 2015 race for the Premiership.
“I am proud of our defence that did the job for us,” said Maina, who also gave credit to his line of attack during the play-offs. Maina singled out Mercy Wanyama, Hilda Indasi and Samba Mjomba for their leading role in the play-offs.
Mercy, who is the younger sister of Kenya football stars Victor Wanyama and McDonald Mariga, was named the finals’ Most Valuable Player, having scored 36 points for the Hawks.
Maina also noted that the experience of Silalei Shani and Everlyne “Sande” Nora helped the team in the nail-biting final contest.
“We set ourselves the target of winning the league but it didn’t come easy since we embarked on good preparations,” Maina said. “The players’ discipline and dedication was just what every coach yearns for.”
Maina said coaching women’s side for the first time has also given him a new experience, having handled men teams at KPA, Parklands Baptist and United States International University –Africa (USIU-A).
Maina said he is looking forward to recruit up to three more players to bolster his side ahead of the continental championships and the Premier League title defence in a month’s time.
“I don’t want to come up with excuses that it was our first time at the continental battle. We want to leave a memorable mark there and affirm that it wasn’t a fluke winning the national title.”
