Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) men’s Premier League leaders, Nairobi City Thunder, secured a hard-fought victory against South Sudanese champions Cobra Sport with a score of 77-69 in an exhilarating friendly match held at the Nyayo Gymnasium on Labour Day night.
The South Sudanese Cobras arrived in Nairobi for a series of friendly matches, using this opportunity to gauge themselves against the formidable Nairobi City Thunder team.
Expressing his delight, head coach Simon Mayel stated, “The level of Kenyan basketball is very high, and that is why we chose to come here. We have no league games back in South Sudan, and we needed to keep ourselves in check and ensure we are in a good place, as well as giving exposure to some of our young players.”
Thunder’s head coach, Brad Ibs, acknowledged the significance of the match for Kenyan basketball, thanking the fans for their enthusiastic support. Despite acknowledging areas for improvement, Ibs praised his team’s resilience in securing yet another victory, maintaining their unbeaten streak for the season.
Alberto Odero emerged as Thunder’s standout player, contributing 21 points to his team’s tally, while Okall Koranga and Garang Ding also made significant contributions. Meanwhile, Cobra’s Deng Kongor led the scoring with an impressive 26 points, showcasing his prowess from beyond the three-point line.
The game witnessed a closely contested battle, with Thunder dominating the opening quarter before Cobra mounted a comeback in the second quarter to briefly take the lead. However, Thunder regrouped in the second half, reclaiming their advantage and ultimately securing the victory.
Coach Ibs also seized the opportunity to provide valuable playing time to some of his younger players, including Moses Alier, who impressed with his performance on the court.
Cobras will continue their series of friendly matches, facing Equity Dumas next on Thursday evening, followed by a clash against a select Nairobi team on Friday night, both matches set to take place at the Nyayo Gymnasium.
