By John Lawrence
Nairobi, Kenya: You have seen them play or heard of their endless basketball conquests in the country and in the region.
But little known to many are the daily struggles of the members of Eagle Wings basketball team – the five-time Kenyan champions – to make ends meet.
The young ladies can barely afford to pay for their training, let alone pay for their daily needs as players.
Yet their determination, undying passion for the game and source of inspiration, have made the Eagles Wings soar, even though they have often been considered underdogs in many competitions.
Assistant team manager Wesonga Agina says it has been difficult to maintain the girls without regular income since the club officials and the technical bench can only afford to give them daily transport allowance whenever they train.
The ladies are scheduled to take part in this year’s Zone 5 championships to be held at Burundi’s capital Bujumbura in August but they have no funds yet.
“We only have two months to go for the championships in Bujumbura and we need at least Sh2 million but here we are with not even a coin. We appeal to well wishers and any prospective sponsors to help us honour the regional tourney,” says Agina.
So, how have Eagle Wings managed to be champions despite the hardships they go through?
“I believe that it is all about God’s calling since we basically have no constant source of income neither do we carry out any income generating activity as a team,” team manager Nellie Odera says.
“Eagle Wings simply depends on friends, well-wishers and occasionally grants from FIBA or the Kenyan Government.”
Gitau Waringo, the national basketball team head coach, says passion for the game and the aspiration to win supersedes a player’s interest for money.
“Serious local players in the basketball league, have the aspect of self drive and initiative to achieve great results. That is what has kept Eagle Wings to date,” Waringo, who is also Kenyatta University’s basketball team head coach and a former National Team head coach, says.
Indeed amidst all the struggles the ladies go through, their love for the game and inspiration from coach Smarts Olumbo has seen them trounce well-sponsored teams in the continent.
“Eagle Wings is the team I needed to be in to push my basketball career to the next level. Long before joining them, I knew they had a great story ahead and my teammates to date make the whole experience worthwhile. Our coach is just but the greatest tactician ever,” says Angela Okoth who is also one of the most dependable players in the team.
History
Eagles Wings was formed soon after Telkom Kenya disbanded a number of its sporting units in 2007.
Team manager Nellie Odera and her friends brought together some of the players from what was previously Telkom Kenya Basketball team to form Eagle Wings.
In the same year after the formation of the team, the ladies finished third in Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) Premier League and represented Kenya in the African Basketball Club Championships in Nairobi.
Achievements
2008 Finished third in KBF Premier League
2009 Winners East and Central African Club Championships (Zone 5) KBF Premier League.
2010 Winners East and Central African Club Championships (Zone 5) and 2nd KBF Premier League
2011 Winners KBF Premier League
2012 Winners both Winners KBF Premier League and African Zone 5 Championships
