Bradley Ibs Bags Major Award After Leading Nairobi City Thunder to Historic BAL Breakthrough

Nairobi City Thunder head coach Bradley Ibs has been named Betika/SJAK Coach of the Month for November following a remarkable run that saw his side secure another historic milestone in African basketball.

Bradley Ibs guided the Kenyan champions to back-to-back qualification for the main 2026 Basketball Africa League (BAL) tournament, reaffirming Nairobi City Thunder’s growing stature on the continental stage.

Playing in front of a packed Kasarani Indoor Gymnasium, the Nairobi City Thunder delivered a commanding performance, dismantling the Johannesburg Giants to book their place in the competition.

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The emphatic victory also saw Nairobi City Thunder become the first team in this year’s East Division Elite 16 to surpass the 100-point mark, highlighting the attacking flair and confidence instilled by their coach.

Nairobi City Thunder, who made their BAL debut last year, repeated the qualification feat on home soil under Bradley Ibs’ leadership, underlining the team’s consistency and steady growth.

The achievement marked a major step forward for Kenyan club basketball and reinforced the belief that the side can compete with Africa’s elite.

Bradley Ibs edged out a competitive list of nominees that included unbeaten Kenya Police FC Bullets coach David Vijago and Kenya Morans coach Kevin Wambua, who led the Kenya Sevens team to an unbeaten campaign at the Zambezi 7s.

Also nominated were Kenya Lionesses coach Simon Odongo, Deaflympics coach Caroline Kola, Junior Stars coach William Muluya, Kenya Ports Authority coach Antony Ojukwu and Kenya Police FC head coach Dušan Stojanović.

An excited Bradley Ibs said he was thrilled to receive the award, crediting his players’ dedication and effort for the success, while expressing excitement about once again representing Kenya on the continental stage.

"I'm thrilled to receive this award," said Coach Bradley Ibs. "I'm proud of my team's hard work and dedication. We're excited to represent Kenya on the continental stage again."

Speaking during the presentation, Betika Marketing Executive Marya Wachira lauded the quality of the nominees, saying their achievements reflected the rising standards of Kenyan sport across multiple disciplines. She noted that Betika remains committed to supporting and celebrating coaching excellence.

“The depth of this month’s nominees reflects a big truth…Kenyan coaches are raising the bar across every sport. Betika is honoured to support this advancement and to acknowledge the achievements and dedication that make it possible…every month,” noted Marya Wachira.

On his part, SJAK President James Waindi also congratulated the coach, describing the honour as a fitting recognition of his impact on Kenyan basketball and his role in inspiring future generations.