Nakuru women's basketball team secure third place after beating Siaya in KYISA games

For the second year in a row, the Nakuru County womens’ basketball team proved they are a force to be reckoned with, posting an impressive performance during the Kenya Youth Inter-County Sports Association (KYISA) games held in Homa Bay.

This time around, they finished third after a thrilling battle for third place against Siaya County—the same team they faced in last year’s final. But this time, Nakuru turned the tables, defeating them 62–52.

Speaking to Beryl Oyoo, one of the team’s players, she describes the experience as bittersweet. “We were really hoping to win this year, but unfortunately, it didn’t go as planned,” she says.

“The competition this year was tougher compared to last year. Every team brought their A-game. On our part, we didn’t have much time to prepare. Last year, we had six days to practice and fine-tune our play, but this time we only had one day to train before traveling,” she explains.

Still, that didn’t hold them back. With a growing reputation as a ruthless team, they knew they had to live up to it.

“Even though we didn’t make it to the finals, our match against Siaya felt like one. Beating them for third place was satisfying, especially since they beat us in last year’s final,” she adds.

Her teammate Keziah Clare echoed the sentiment, saying that while they didn’t clinch the top spot, the tournament offered a great opportunity to showcase their talent.

“I remember when we arrived in Homa Bay—every team wanted to see ‘The Nakuru Team.’ That was because of how well we played last year,”. This year, all the teams were very competitive,” she says.

Keziah also emphasizes that beyond the competition, the tournament plays a vital role in giving players a chance to be discovered by scouts from top teams—something that keeps them motivated to always give their best.

Coach David Kamau, alias Deu, says that while they didn’t win as expected, he’s proud of the opportunities the tournament has opened up for his players.

“After last year’s games, six of the twelve players in my roster were scouted and are now playing in major leagues,” he shares. “So, coming into this year’s tournament, we held try outs to bring in a fresh batch of talent. After last weekend’s performance, I’m confident more players will get called up.”

Looking ahead, Coach Deu is already setting his sights on next year.

“Next year, the games will be held in Nakuru—and we’re not going to hold back. We’ll go back to the drawing board, strategize, and make sure we win that championship on our home turf, in front of our fans,”

 “At the end of the day, I’m just happy to see this tournament serve as a stepping stone for so many of these girls,” he concludes.