Be In The Know
For Marsabit, Isiolo, Samburu, Meru, Tharaka Nithi, Embu & National News

Email Us

[gravityform id=”1″ title=”false” description=”false” ajax=”true”]

Our address

Mashariki Television Networks Limited
Mashariki Communications Centre
Meru-Maua Road
Main Telephone: +254 797 372 837
Postal Address: P. O. Box 747-60200, Meru, Kenya

Email: info@themasharikinewspaper.com

We are social

[ { "featureType": "administrative", "elementType": "geometry", "stylers": [ { "visibility": "off" } ] }, { "featureType": "administrative.province", "elementType": "labels", "stylers": [ { "visibility": "off" }, { "color": "#ffffff" } ] }, { "featureType": "administrative.locality", "elementType": "labels", "stylers": [ { "visibility": "simplified" }, { "color": "#ffffff" } ] }, { "featureType": "administrative.neighborhood", "elementType": "labels", "stylers": [ { "visibility": "simplified" }, { "color": "#ffffff" } ] }, { "featureType": "landscape.man_made", "elementType": "geometry.fill", "stylers": [ { "visibility": "on" }, { "color": "#eeb283" } ] }, { "featureType": "landscape.man_made", "elementType": "geometry.stroke", "stylers": [ { "visibility": "on" }, { "color": "#eeb283" }, { "weight": "1" } ] }, { "featureType": "landscape.man_made", "elementType": "labels", "stylers": [ { "visibility": "simplified" } ] }, { "featureType": "landscape.natural", "elementType": "geometry.fill", "stylers": [ { "visibility": "on" }, { "color": "#eeb283" } ] }, { "featureType": "poi", "elementType": "geometry.fill", "stylers": [ { "visibility": "on" }, { "color": "#eeb283" } ] }, { "featureType": "poi", "elementType": "geometry.stroke", "stylers": [ { "visibility": "on" }, { "color": "#f27f68" } ] }, { "featureType": "poi", "elementType": "labels.text", "stylers": [ { "visibility": "simplified" } ] }, { "featureType": "poi", "elementType": "labels.icon", "stylers": [ { "visibility": "off" } ] }, { "featureType": "road", "elementType": "geometry", "stylers": [ { "lightness": 100 }, { "visibility": "simplified" }, { "color": "#f27f68" } ] }, { "featureType": "road", "elementType": "labels", "stylers": [ { "visibility": "simplified" }, { "color": "#e9e6e6" } ] }, { "featureType": "road", "elementType": "labels.icon", "stylers": [ { "visibility": "off" } ] }, { "featureType": "transit", "elementType": "geometry", "stylers": [ { "color": "#f27f68" } ] }, { "featureType": "transit", "elementType": "labels", "stylers": [ { "visibility": "on" } ] }, { "featureType": "transit", "elementType": "labels.text", "stylers": [ { "visibility": "simplified" } ] }, { "featureType": "transit", "elementType": "labels.icon", "stylers": [ { "visibility": "simplified" } ] }, { "featureType": "transit.line", "elementType": "geometry", "stylers": [ { "visibility": "off" }, { "lightness": 700 } ] }, { "featureType": "transit.station.rail", "elementType": "labels", "stylers": [ { "visibility": "off" } ] }, { "featureType": "water", "elementType": "all", "stylers": [ { "color": "#f27f68" } ] } ]

Taking Samburu basketball to greater heights-Alex Aleka

Coach Alex Aleka (in a cap) with the Good Shepherd Minor Seminary School basketball team at Nova International School in Eldoret during the regional competitions this year | PHOTO-Hillary Mukasa

By Hillary Mukasa

Alex Aleka developed an interest in playing basketball when he was in class seven. He played for Upper Hill Blazers in Maralal as a point guard. He is the coach of Upper Hill Blazers and Upper Hill Divas.

Upper Hill Blazers is the team for men while Upper Hill Divas is the ladies’ team. Alex has coached basketball in many schools in Samburu County namely Maralal School, AK Moi Girls, Maralal Mixed, Irene School, and Good Shepherd Seminary.

Asked by the Eastern Newspaper on the benefits of playing basketball coach Alex said “It gives students a chance to showcase their talents. My students get appropriate skills from me that sharpen their abilities in the game.” He added that “playing basketball gives the students a chance to interact with each other and get life skills”. Playing basketball strengthens our National integration and cohesion.

At the club level, his team became the champion of the regional league and proceeded to the national playoffs thrice in Mombasa, Nairobi, and Kisumu.

The gifted coach led Good Shepard Minor Seminary School to the 2023 regional competitions that were hosted at Nova International School in Eldoret. Alex Ontita was the Samburu County basketball coach during the Kenya Youth Inter County Sports Association (KYISA) championship held in Tharaka Nithi County in Chuka in March this year.

On the challenges faced in the growth of basketball to greater heights in Samburu Alex cited lack of finances and lack of adequate infrastructure in terms of basketball courts and basic playing equipment. Coach Alex stated that the County Government elected leaders, Catholic Mission Church, Basketball Federation, and lovers of basketball are really assisting in bridging the gaps in the basketball game in the County.

Comments (0)

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*