Kenyan basketball experienced arguably what was one of the biggest nights in continental basketball in nearly three decades when they triumphed over Angola.
Kenyan team has been a trending topic since the big win which they had to wait for 27 hard years that saw many forget about Kenyan basketball.
A lot has changed in the 28 years which in turn led to this major win, but one change we can’t ignore is the addition of Liz Mills, the new coach of the team.
History made 🇰🇪
Kenya is back to the @AfroBasket for the first time in 28 years.
Proud to be the 1st woman to lead a men's national team to a major continental tournament 😤
📸 @FIBA#FIBA #FIBAAfrica #AfroBasket #Qualifiers #GroupB #Kenya #Morans #Angola #Basketball #CoachMills pic.twitter.com/GQcRVB2Nyn— Coach Liz Mills 🇦🇺 (@Coach_LizMills) February 22, 2021
The Australian is getting noticed now especially in Kenya, but she has been in the country longer than many might think. Seven years to be exact.
Coaching the Morans is not her first association with Kenyan basketball. She was previously in Nairobi in 2015 when she engaged in coaching programmes as well as working with the university league.
She has been in Africa even longer.
Mills’ knowledge of African basketball is great as she has been in the continent since 2011. Her association with African basketball began after she graduated with a degree in Sports Science and Sports Management in 2008.
She then started out as a volunteer in Zambia which led her to Kenya. Since then, African Basketball has always been part of her.
“Zambia is where it all started for me. I have to give (Heroes Play United) credit as they were open to having a random Australian approach them to run a training session. The first session was only supposed to be an hour, but they encouraged me to stay and then come back for the next session which turned into working with them for the rest of the season,” she said.
She also worked as the assistant coach of Cameroon before moving to Rwanda as the assistant coach for the Patriots Basketball Club. From there, she came to Kenya last year to coach the Morans.
“I have had a great sojourn in Africa. I want to leave an indelible mark with this Kenya team,” she said.
“Basketball is my passion and I believe it’s not all about the x’s and o’s or the win/loss column. It’s about developing the character of your players. Results will follow. I am particularly passionate about developing the game in Africa and using it as a tool to promote not only health but also individuals of high character.
“I began my coaching career in Sydney Australia. Since 2011 I have coached predominately in Africa. I have coached senior men’s club teams, men’s national university teams and men’s senior national teams during my time on the continent.”
