By Eddah Waithaka
The Aga Khan Academy from Mombasa and Umoja Junior School from Changamwe emerged as the new champions of the M-PESA Jr. NBA Coast Regional finals, held yesterday at the prestigious Aga Khan Academy in Mombasa County.
The thrilling event showcased exceptional talent and fierce competition, culminating in two electrifying finals. In the boys’ category, the host team, Aga Khan Academy, delivered a stellar performance under the guidance of Coach Eugine Auka.
They secured a hard-fought 25-19 victory over Kinango Junior School in a tightly contested match at the indoor court arena. Aga Khan’s high-pressure defense forced turnovers and shut down their opponents in both halves, clinching the regional title in front of a cheering home crowd.
Meanwhile, Umoja Junior School from Changamwe dominated the girls’ finals, defeating the host team, Aga Khan Academy, with a commanding 20-15 victory. Umoja set the tempo early in the first half, with Zuhura Suleiman’s quick-fire buckets propelling them to an 8-4 lead at halftime.
Despite Aga Khan’s relentless efforts to mount a second-half comeback, Umoja maintained their composure with strong offensive plays and solid defense, sealing their victory and the championship title.
At the award ceremony, Aga Khan’s head coach, Eugine Auka, expressed his pride in his team’s remarkable performance. “I am really impressed by what my teams have achieved in this tournament. Winning the boys’ title and finishing second in the girls’ category is no easy feat, especially against such tough and well-prepared opponents. I want to commend the organizers, M-PESA and NBA Africa, for such a well-organized tournament. We need more of these high-quality competitions to help our young players develop and excel in this sport,” Auka said.
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Both Aga Khan (Boys) and Umoja JSS (Girls) secured their spots in the finals after standout performances in the semifinals.
Aga Khan outplayed St. Mary’s JSS 18-10, while Umoja JSS edged out Tsagwa JSS 8-6 in closely fought morning matchups. As part of their victory, players from both winning teams received smartphones and airtime courtesy of Safaricom M-PESA.
Oshwal Academy and Tsagwa JSS claimed third place in the boys’ and girls’ categories, respectively, after playoff victories against St. Mary’s and Mwanamunga. Evans Muga, Coast Regional Marketing Lead at Safaricom, highlighted the tournament’s impact on youth development.
“The M-PESA Jr. NBA Coast Regional tournament has truly demonstrated the immense potential in our young basketball talents. That is why, as Safaricom, we are committed to supporting various sports in the country to nurture and develop these young athletes. We recognize that sports is not only a passion but a viable career path. Beyond supporting the competition, we are also equipping these young players with essential financial literacy skills through M-PESA Go,” Muga said.
The two-day tournament featured 40 teams comprising 480 players from Kilifi, Mombasa, and Kwale. Beyond the on-court action, Safaricom integrated financial literacy sessions through M-PESA Go, empowering participants with essential financial management skills.
Michael Finley, NBA Africa – Kenya Country Lead, praised the event for uncovering grassroots talent. “I never imagined we had such incredible basketball talent at the grassroots level. What I witnessed here today proves that Kenya is brimming with young talent. What we need now is the right structures to further develop these sports. Seeing 480 players take part in this tournament is a testament to the passion and potential we have,” Finley said.
With the Nairobi and Coast regions completed, the M-PESA Jr. NBA tournament now heads to Eldoret on March 15th–16th, 2025, at Nova Pioneer School, continuing its mission to nurture young talent and promote financial literacy across Kenya.
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