Samba Mjomba: I don’t regret hanging my boots for basketball coaching

Equity Hawks assistant coach Samba Mjomba has admitted that it was not an easy decision for her to hang her playing boots and join a coaching career.

The just-concluded 2023-2024 Kenya National Women’s Basketball League was Mjomba’s first season on the technical bench, after quitting playing at the end of the 2022-2023 season.

She immediately joined the technical bench at the same club which she won three league titles as a player.

“It wasn’t an easy decision because I love basketball and my decision was guided by how else I can change this game. I have played for almost 25 years and I played with different teams and in different levels as a player; national team, youth teams, so for me it was more of how else can I impact the game with what I have learnt,” said Mjomba.

Mjomba admitted that she has learnt the coaching tactics from some of the best coaches in the country since the time she joined the league team.

“My first call up in the national team, KPA head coach Anthony Ojukwu was the head coach and Equity’s Benson Oluoch was the assistant head coach, so I have seen them through different phases of their careers, how passionate they are and how basically they love the game. It was all about love, passion and how one can put a positive growth in the game of basketball,” she added.

The former captain added that a lot has changed in the coaching sector over the years, but said she is adapting well.

“The game has changed and a lot of research needs to be done. You need to go through and understand the role of an assistant coach which I feel is not appreciated that much in Kenya. There are specific roles the head coach sets, which as the assistant coach you need to follow through so that they can be able to support the team,” Mjomba explained.

“Different teams internationally have up to four to five assistant head coaches but each coach has his/her role and they follow through that role so that they can ensure that the team is performing well.”

Equity Hawks defeated Kenya National Women’s Basketball League defending champions KPA 76-74 in Game Five to complete a hard fought 3-2 victory in best-of-five series and was crowned league champions.

Equity Hawks and KPA will represent the country in the FIBA Zone Five championship later this year.