Centre Taudenciah Oluoch is enjoying her stay at JKL Lady Dolphins after an impressive start in the National Basketball League.
The Kenyan joined JKL midway through the ongoing season and is second on the leaderboard in the league in most average Rebounds with 14.1, oy bettered by Rose Akon (UCU) on 15.3.
She is averaging 13 points and her tally has been integral for JKL Dolphins who are still unbeaten after 17 games.
She joined the two-time defending champions from Kenya’s KPA.
“My decision to join JKL was very easy because I knew JKL team and the management. I also knew their team roster that they had only two experienced post players so this was an open chance.”
Oluoch’s addition has been timely, given the fact that the one of the other two post players in Stella Oyella has been on and off with She Cranes and has left with the team for Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
She has seamlessly fit in the team and lifted the heavy workload burden off Hope Akello.
Oluoch credits basketball for improving her life, a sport that helped her secure a scholarship in the United States.
She played at Tyler Junior College in the NCCA and Abilene Christian University in Texas.
Oluoch was named in the NJCAA second team after emerging as the best top scorer and top rebounder in a couple of games.
She has also featured for Don Bosco Lionesses and KPA before coming to Uganda.
“Actually this is my third time in Uganda, the first time I came was for the East African games in 2013, then returned in 2019 for the National 3X3.”
She says everyone on the team is “my bestie”, despite being more closest to small forward Brenda Ekone.
“My first days in Uganda were tough,” she reflects.
“I was just trying to figure out everything. The too many boda bodas all over, too much party animals around (laughs), not having Uber or bolt (cars) to move around.”
Oluoch harbours dreams of playing somewhere else and wants to use JKL and NBL as a platform to seek to secure better deals abroad.
“What gives me the confidence is getting the opportunity of playing this basketball and you never know who is watching. Also paying in big competitive stages has got my confidence up there.”
On how she compares Uganda and Kenya Basketball, she explains: “I will say in Uganda, it’s much competitive, there are about four or more teams that compete for the title which might not be the case in Kenya. In development, both countries are hanging up there.”
