NAIROBI, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Four basketball teams will represent Kenya at this year's Africa Zone Five Club Championships, which will be held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania from Sept. 30 to Oct. 10.
A total of 20 teams have confirmed participation in the championships. The two winning teams will advance to the Champions Cup of Africa.
The Africa Champions Cup is the premier men's and women's club competition on the continent. Clubs from Angola have dominated and this golden thread shows no sign of unraveling after Petro Atletico de Luanda were crowned the 2015 champions.
However, on the zonal front, Kenya's women's champions KPA will look to retain the title for the third year in a row after wins in Kampala and Dar es Salaam in 2016-17.
However, the men's team finished third in last year's tournament losing to eventual winners City Oilers of Uganda in Kampala.
Kenyan champion KPA men's and women's teams alongside Equity Bank and Strathmore Blades will carry the country's flag in the tournament.
KPA Men's team head coach Sammy Kiki said here Wednesday that his team is ready for the challenge.
"We have prepared for competition. We are training and ready for the championship and our main target is to go flat out for the title. Last year, we came close but were disappointed to finish third. But this time round, I believe we will win it," said Kiki.
The Africa Zone Five is open to league champions clubs from Kenya, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, Djibouti, Rwanda and Burundi.
KPA women's team coach Anthony Ojukwu said the team is in good form following thorough drills.
"The team is jelling well and they have a stronger mentality. Our aim is to defend the title and continue dominating the region," he said.
The Kenya teams are due to jet out for Dar es Salaam on Friday. Enditem
