Veteran Kenyan basketballer Griffins Ligare on longevity, AfroBasket 2025 and future plans
eteran Kenyan basketballer Griffins Ligare continues to defy age, leading both Nairobi City Thunder and Kenya Morans with remarkable longevity. As he prepares for the final round of the 2025 AfroBasket qualifiers in Libya, Ligare reflects on his career, the secrets behind his endurance, and his future in the sport.
Kenya Morans and Nairobi City Thunder captain Griffins Ligare may be in the twilight of his basketball career, but he continues to embrace each new challenge with renewed energy and determination.
"I am grateful to God for the health that allows me to play basketball at the highest level," says Ligare, who turns 40 on May 19. He spoke to The Eastleigh Voice before departing with the Kenya Morans for Libya, where they will contest the final round of the 2025 AfroBasket qualifiers. Kenya faces Tunisia on February 21, Angola on February 22, and Guinea on February 23.
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Ligare is revered in Kenyan basketball circles for his longevity and unwavering loyalty to Nairobi City Thunder, a team he has represented since 2008, back when it was known as ICC before rebranding in 2010.
His remarkable career has earned admiration from teammates, including Nairobi City Thunder and Kenya Morans guard Faheem Juma. "I see myself playing for the next 10 years. I want to be like Ligare. I admire his longevity," the 31-year-old Juma told The Eastleigh Voice in May 2024.
Among his peers, Ligare's longevity often draws comparisons to Los Angeles Lakers’ superstar LeBron James. "My teammates occasionally mention the similarities in how we’ve both sustained long careers," he says. However, he quickly downplays the comparison. "LeBron has done way more than I have in the sport," he adds with humility.
Yet, Ligare’s dedication and work ethic remain commendable. "It is all thanks to God and putting in the right work," he says of his ability to compete at the highest level for over two decades.
For Ligare, "putting in the right work" means rigorous gym sessions, maintaining a proper diet, and ensuring close collaboration with physiotherapists.
"Basketball demands a lot physically, and the weight room is key. I put in the necessary work to stay fit and in shape. Managing rest and recovery is also crucial, so I remain in constant consultation with physiotherapists to ensure my body gets the right attention after matches," says Ligare, who is also a Sports Science graduate and a PE teacher in Nairobi.
His longevity is not just a product of discipline but also an enduring love for the game. "Even with all the effort that goes into staying fit, my passion for basketball keeps me going," he adds.
Ligare emphasizes the importance of consistency and focus in developing positive habits - an approach he and his Kenya Morans teammates will carry into their qualifiers in Libya.
Kenya aims to qualify for AfroBasket - Africa's premier national team basketball competition - for the fifth time in history. Ligare and his teammates are determined to become the first generation of Morans to qualify for back-to-back AfroBasket tournaments, following their appearance in Rwanda in 2021.
Drawing from lessons learned in 2021, Ligare stresses the need for Kenya Morans to establish and maintain rhythm early in the qualifiers. "In Libya, we must find our rhythm quickly by making the right plays and executing with the right players. Once we get into a flow, we need to sustain it until the end," he says.
Kenya Morans will count on Ligare’s experience, alongside five other players who featured in Rwanda 2021: Albert Odero, Bush Wamukota, Fidel Okoth, Tylor Ongwae, and Victor Bosire. Kenya's best AfroBasket performance remains a fourth-place finish in 1993, with previous appearances in 1985 (12th place), 1989 (11th place), and 2021 (Round of 16 exit).
Should they qualify, Kenya Morans will compete at AfroBasket 2025 in Angola this August.
Beyond the qualifiers, Ligare also looks forward to featuring in the 2025 Basketball Africa League with Nairobi City Thunder. He remains non-committal about retirement. "I want to keep playing as long as my body allows," he says. However, he acknowledges coaching as a natural transition post-retirement.
"Even after I retire, I want to stay close to the game. In my free time, I already coach younger players, and I plan to continue doing so," he concludes.
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