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Nairobi Thunder have cast their their sights on sealing a first-ever Basketball Africa League ticket but uncertainity over dates for qualifiers is hampering their preparations.
Kenya's Nairobi City Thunder only have eyes for the 2025 Basketball Africa League (BAL) with the local league second on their list of priorities.
Thunder are preparing for the qualification round of the BAL Elite 16 and coach Brad Ibs is keen to keep his best players fit for the continental tournament hence the decision to keep them out of league matches.
Ibs wants his players free from injuries now that they are chasing history of becoming the first Kenyan side to seal qualification for the prestigious BAL.
"Honestly, our focus is purely on the BAL and we will not use our rostered players in the league to avoid the issues of injuries and such kind," Ibs told TelecomAsiaSport.
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"We will use this opportunity to give our other players, who are equally good, a chance to build themselves in the league.
"Of course, we want to win every match in the league and we would want to field our best players in every game but honestly, the targets of the organization are on the BAL," he admitted.
Ibs' frustration, however, is the uncertainty surrounding Elite 16 matches, whose start date is yet to be known.
The event was initially slated for early November but three weeks into the month, a host country has not been found with no dates confirmed.
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It means Thunder, and the other teams set to feature, keep training but without knowledge on when they will play.
"Of course it tends to be a small distraction for them especially when you're just training and not playing high level matches," added Ibs.
"But we have spoken and I have told them we have to remain on our toes and ensure we're ready for whenever we are called upon."
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