NAIROBI (Kenya) - Nairobi City Thunder (NCT) are on a mission to become the first Kenyan side to qualify for Basketball Africa League (BAL).
Ahead of their Elite 16 debut, here's what you need to know about the club.
HOW THEY QUALIFIED FOR THE ROAD TO BAL
Under new management, the Thunder recruited well for the 2023/24 league season finishing the regular season top of the 12-team top-tier league unbeaten.
They maintained the same momentum in the playoff Quarters best-of-three and best-of-five playoff Semis and Final to bag a maiden Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) men's league title.
Before this feat, NCT had been to the Final playoff once, in 2019, falling to Ulinzi Warriors, one of two other sides that have represented Kenya in the Elite 16.
HOW THEY QUALIFIED TO THE ELITE 16
The Bradley Ibs-coached side made their debut in the Road to BAL East Division Group D, finishing second behind Burundi's Urunani in the five-team competition held in Kibaha, Tanzania.
The Tylor Ongwae captained side won three of four matches against Seychelles Beau Vallon Heat (89-58), Madagascar's GNBC (96-60) and hosts JKT (86-63), going down 89-88 to Urunani for the second place finish.
KEY PLAYERS IN GROUP PHASE OF THE ROAD TO BAL
NCT's charge was led by their skipper Ongwae who was also playing for a Kenyan club for the first time.
The Kenyan national team player spent a majority of his playing career with Bakken Bears in Denmark where he won three titles and the Danish Cup twice.
Before joining the side ahead of Road to BAL, Ongwae had played in Germany for Niners Chemnitz, lifting the FIBA Europe Cup.
In terms of numbers, William Sydney Davis II was the top scorer, averaging 21.5 points in the two matches he played before picking an injury.
Derrick Ogechi, also making his debut in the competition, playing African club basketball for the first time, averaged 15.5 points.
Garang Diing led the side's defense, alongside the William, averaging 8.3 and 9.5 in rebounding respectively.
Meanwhile, American-Nigerian guard Uchenna Iroegbu led the assists charts ahead of Ongwae on 6.5 and 4.8 respectively.
HEAD COACH
American tactician, Ibs took over the team in the 2023-24 season after a change in management. The club retained long-serving Sadat Gaya, as his assistant.
Ibs, who moved to Kenya in 2008, served as head coach of the Rosslyn Academy U19 and U14 teams.
The Concordia University graduate also partnered with Far East Basketball (FEBA), a community based youth development program in Nairobi, running several coaching programs, before being appointed to head NCT's charge for the Kenyan title and beyond.
NATIONAL TEAM PLAYERS REPRESENTING THE THUNDER
Ahead of their Road to BAL debut, NCT unveiled Ogechi, Ongwae and 2022-23 League Most Valuable Player (MVP) Eugene Adera all national team players. Ongwae had called time on his international career but has since confirmed he is willing to suit up for the Kenya Morans, again.
The trio joined a squad that already had other Morans' mainstays Ariel Okall, Albert Odero, the reigning league MVP, and Fidel Okoth. Also in the squad are James Mwangi and Kennedy Wachira who have featured for the national team previously.
NEW ADDITIONS
Since their qualification to the Elite 16, the Thunder has unveiled Nigerien star Abdoulaye Harouna and South-Sudan born Lebanese International Ater James Majok.
WHERE THEY PLAY THEIR HOME GAMES
The side plays its home matches at the Nyayo Indoor Gymnasium. The facility hosts the Kenyan league with a majority of the Nairobi-based teams using it as their home court.
TEAM'S YEAR OF CREATION AND OWNERSHIP
The side was established in 1998 initially as a Corporate team under National Social Security Fund (NSSF), winning the league in 2000.
In 2003 the team rebranded to International Christian Center after landing the church as a new sponsor, a deal that ran for seven years until 2010. They competed as a self-sponsored side until 2023 when Twende Sports acquired the club.
NCT's former coach Faustin Mgendi, who has since retired from active sports, founded the team.
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