Departed BFK supremo Otula celebrated as Thunder edge Phenoms in memorial match

Tributes poured in Saturday evening as the late Kenya Basketball Federation Chairman Paul Otula was honoured with a memorial game at the Kasarani Indoor Arena.  

The exhibition game between Nairobi City Thunder and Phenomenal Phenoms ended 118-104 in favour of the Thunder, despite Phenoms' best efforts to make it a contest. 

Described by his colleagues as a soft spoken - gentle giant, the late Otula passed on last week after a short illness, his untimely demise shocking the basketball fraternity and the broader sports scene.  

Kenya Basketball Federation first vice president Hilmi Ali promised to follow in the footsteps of the gentle giant who mentored him in different facets of life, including his rise up to his current rank. 

"We will follow in his footsteps for a greater basketball and sports in Kenya. He mentored me, that is why I am here. We need to celebrate his life for what he has done.

“We will miss him, his thoughts, his leadership – for we have lost a great man," Ali said.

Friends and relatives brought roses and lit candles as basketball fraternity gathered to celebrate the legacy of the long-time KBF chief, who has been in charge since 2008.

His would be seat was draped in his jersey (no.61) and placed near midcourt from where he would have been seated if in attendance. 

Otula, a former Principal at the Maseno School is attributed with the vision of setting up the sport for greater good with his latest and most resounding feat being the qualification of the National City Thunder to the continental league, Basketball African League. 

Federation Secretary General Angela Luchivya praised him for his vision, reflecting on the BAL dream that is soon to be achieved as the Nairobi City Thunder compete at the Kigali fiesta from May 17 to 25.

"There's no better  place to be than right here( Kasarani) last year we hosted the road to BAL and he was at the forefront  of ensuring that we held the games here, he believed the Thunder had a better  chance at qualifying for BAL , and it was a great moment for him and the  Federation. So today, was just a day to take a pause, think about  the legacy that he had and to be able to ask ourselves how we can move forward and ensure that that dream comes to reality," Luchivya observed.

Outgoing National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) Secretary General Francis Mutuku termed the former Olympic Committee member as a diligent hard-worker who in his tenure went all out to see the growth of basketball.

"There was no better way to remember him than to be right where he loved. He had committed his life to basketball, watching that tribute match was a clear testimony to what he has left behind and what he continues to inspire even after he has left.

“He was a gentle giant, big but very soft spoken and a good supporter of our programs. He was very critical to the great work done in the last eight years in terms of bringing  the sport to what it is,"  Mutuku reflected.

Thunder's guard Derrick Ogechi recounted his times and moments with the late Otula, describing him as a kind-hearted man, adding that his departure motivates them to give their all in the forthcoming BAL tournament.  

"For the four years I knew him, he was very kind. He did his best to ensure everyone had everything needed especially us in the national team. Moving forward, to keep his legacy, I hope we can continue to do everything as a community and build each other up instead of going separate ways," he said.

The exhibition match was the Thunder's last showing for their home crowd before their departure to Kigali.