Kenyan women’s basketballer Reynolds aiming for top showing in AfroBasket qualifiers
Kenya’s Reynolds aiming high at women’s AfroBasket
JOHANNESBURG, June 17 (ANA) – Victoria Reynolds will be hoping to use her experience playing in the USA to help Kenya produce a top showing in the Women’s African Basketball Championship (AfroBasket) qualifiers.
Reynolds is part of group of new players looking to debut for Kenya.
The newcomer is aware that Kenya finished second to Egypt in Kampala, Uganda, in the 2019 Women’s AfroBasket Qualifiers, and benefited from a wild card for the finals in Dakar, Senegal.
Reynolds, who played for the College of William and Mary from 2016 to 2020, said she is happy to bring a different approach/style to the game from what she learned playing stateside.
She is determined to help the ‘Lionesses’ – runners-up at the 1993 Women’s AfroBasket festival also in Dakar – reclaim their position as a top team both in the East Africa region and in the continent.
This has been manifested from her training sessions with the rest of the team since her arrival. Reynolds is one of the eight foreign-based players called to the team.
And the 23-year-old forward’s target is to emulate her father, ‘Big’ Ben Wanjara by playing for the national team in Africa’s biggest stage.
But first, Kenya must get past favourites Egypt, Rwanda, Uganda and debutants South Sudan in the qualifiers for her dream to become a reality.
“I feel honoured and blessed to be named to the side. I am very grateful to have been selected and have the opportunity to represent Team Kenya,” Reynolds told Fiba.basketball.
“I am happy to be here finally and I am glad that so far the training is going on well. I did not know what to expect but so far everything is fine.”
Despite being new to the team, she is quickly adjusting to the unique team dynamic.
“I like the high spirits and competitiveness. You can tell there is a drive to learn and win. Whether training in the morning or in the afternoon, the drive remains the same.”
For two years now she has followed the Lionesses performance and noted that they have the potential. Now she is ready to help Kenya become a giant basketball nation in the continent once again.
“I believe this year’s team will be more ready and capable of ensuring that Kenya is recognised again as one of the top countries in Africa,” she said.
But what excites the 1.80m versatile player more is the fact that should they make it, she will have a rare opportunity of joining her dad in donning the Kenya national team colours.
Her father appeared for Morans (Kenya basketball team) in Kenya’s last AfroBasket championships in Nairobi in 1993 anchoring them to fourth position – their best-ever placing.
“It is a crazy thought,” she said after being named in the provisional side. “I am ready and exited for the team and myself to live up to those standards.”
“Playing on the same stage as my dad is motivating. I am most excited to play alongside my teammates and put Kenya amongst the best in Africa.”
Two years ago she had an opportunity to train with the team handled by her uncle Ronnie Owino as they prepared for the Kampala games. It was then that she started following Kenyan basketball consistently.
She was impressed by the level and competitiveness of the team and promised to be back to join the team some day.
“It was exciting. I wasn’t sure what to expect but nonetheless, I enjoyed getting to know some of the women briefly and having the opportunity to practice with them.” – African News Agency (ANA), Editing by Michael Sherman