- Nairobi City Thunder will debut in the Basketball Africa League’s (BAL) Nile Conference, set for May 17–25, 2025, in Kigali, Rwanda.
- The team’s head coach, Bradly Ibs, is determined to transform the club into one of the continental powerhouses.
- They are grouped alongside hosts APR (Rwanda), Made by Basketball (MBB, South Africa), and Al Ahli Tripoli (Libya).
Nairobi City Thunder head coach Bradly Ibs has voiced his ambition to make a resounding statement in their debut at the 2025 Basketball Africa League (BAL) and establish the team as a continental powerhouse.
Thunder, who made history by becoming the first Kenyan team to qualify for the BAL on their maiden attempt, are now preparing for the prestigious tournament, set to tip off from May 17-25 in Kigali, Rwanda, as part of the Nile Conference.
The SOYA sports team of the year, are set to battle fellow BAL newcomers Al Ahli Tripoli of Libya, South Africa’s Made by Basketball (MBB), and Rwanda’s seasoned side, Armee Patriotique Rwandaise (APR) Basketball.
With the tournament fast approaching, Coach Ibs confirmed that the squad is intensifying its preparations to ensure they make a significant impact.
The competition is what motivates us; we want to be at the top and be one of the best basketball teams in Africa,” Ibs told the Star
Fully aware of the magnitude of the challenge ahead, Ibs revealed that his technical bench has been meticulously studying their opponents’ tactics and styles of play.
“We have been analysing our opponents closely, we are learning their systems, their threats. That knowledge is key to neutralising their attacks,” he added.
The coach also confirmed that the entire squad is now in camp, and training sessions have reached peak intensity.
“We like the team we have, everyone is in camp as we prepare to make our debut in the next couple of weeks.”
Why Nairobi City Thunder’s unbeaten run and new signings are their biggest motivation
Ibs also noted that the team’s morale is riding high, thanks to their phenomenal unbeaten run.
Thunder has now gone 42 consecutive league games without defeat and started the second leg of the Kenya Basketball League on a strong note, overpowering Strathmore Blades 95–77 to keep their title defense alive.
I think the boys are committed to winning, and that feeds into our mentality. When we step on the floor, the expectation is to win, and the boys take that seriously,” the American tactician added.
Furthermore, Ibs expressed confidence in the club’s latest acquisitions, emphasizing the positive impact of internal competition between local talents and new recruits.
The new signings have raised the bar. Our homegrown players are responding well, they are pushing harder, fighting for their spots, and that’s exactly what we wanted,” he added.
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He noted that reinforcing the squad ahead of the BAL was a calculated and strategic move.
“It’s standard practice when teams head to BAL, they bolster their rosters. We have brought in talent to help us compete at the highest level and sharpen our core group,” he explained.
The club’s international recruits include point guard Uchenna “UC” Iroegbu, returning power forward Will Davis, sharpshooter Evans Ganapamoknown for his experience and scoring prowess and center Feliciano Perez, one of the latest additions to the roster.
