Kent Panthers announces Sten Mayunga as their new General Manager

Mayunga begins his new role as GM with the Kent Panthers where he will be responsible for the Senior and University partnership programs.

Mayunga brings with him extensive experience in elite sports working within the Premier League, Basketball England, BBL, Olympics and BUCS. Having spent over 10 years with the Premier League in various roles, he went on to start his own basketball club in 2021 (the Kent Tigers), who quickly grew to become one of the largest clubs in Kent. Mayunga was then appointed the Chair of Basketball England South East region in the summer of 2022, a position he holds to date, alongside his club commitments. He was also the chair and founding member of the new county wide grassroots basketball league (Kent County Junior Basketball League) but had to step down due to the conflict of interest with his role at BE and sits on the board of the Medway Basketball Association, one of the longest running leagues in Kent.

Sten Mayunga had this to say about his appointment: “I’m super excited and appreciative of the opportunity to help build something incredible at this basketball club. I’ve known Lee Westbrook from my time competing against his junior teams and of course know of Ryan Richards as a Kent basketball legend and one of the all time British talents. The decision to stop operating under Kent Tigers and join Kent Panthers wasn’t easy but after sitting down with both of them and discussing the clubs desire and ambition, it made complete sense to join the club. 

I’ve been fortunate to have worked with and learned from incredible sports people that I consider mentors from my time in sports and I continue to stay in touch with them as I build my own lane in this industry. The fact that I have been entrusted with a club that has Ryan Richards name attached to it along with the amazing work that Lee Westbrook has built and achieved is something I do not take lightly. I join the club with all the assets and resources of the Kent Tigers and I look forward to be working with them to take the Kent Panthers brand to the next level.

Mayunga begins his new role at the end of the 2022/23 season where his role will be to oversee the strategic vision of the club, the daily activities of the Kent Panthers senior team and the support of the new University partnership which he brings with him from his previous club. This announcement will serve as a statement of intent of what Panthers ambition is, to become a truly elite basketball club within Kent.

Co-Founder Lee Westbrook had this to say about the appointment: Sten Mayunga has proven himself to be the ideal candidate for this position. He has the leadership qualities and know-how required to head up the Kent Panthers operations and provide the boost required to develop Kent Panthers to new heights.  This is a statement of intent for the clubs ambitious expansion into senior mens basketball and brings two of Kents largest clubs together.  

Co-Founder Ryan Richards had this to say about the appointment: 

Kent Panthers welcomes Sten Mayunga to its Directors Board, an elite group of cross-sector experts who will help guide the clubs operations and mission, to unlock the possibilities of every young athlete through the power of sport.  Sten will also oversee our senior basketball operations as we strive toward a professional club competing at the highest level of NBL and beyond.

Sten Mayunga commented on the Kent Tigers: “Kent Tigers has been my baby for the last few years. My previous co-owner, Tomiwa Ladele and I, really put blood, sweat and tears into building the club with both having newborns at home and other commitments. Tomiwa being a professional DJ with a full time job and I was working at the Premier League and later the London Lions etc, so we were really in the trenches trying to build something that was needed in our community. During our short existence, we were able to win the Basketball England South East Community Club of the Year in 2022, we built Kent’s only University Basketball Scholarship and worked within primary and secondary school to increase participation levels to over 200 kids at our programs. It’s been a tough but massively rewarding venture and although it will no longer exist as the Kent Tigers, everything we have done will be plugged into the Kent Panthers. I will be working closely with Lee to transfer all our programs, players, coaches, staff, partnerships and assets to the Kent Panthers which basically means that the only change for anyone associated with Kent Tigers is the branding change and additional support from the Kent Panthers which is amazing.”

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For more details on the Kent Panthers 2023-24 season, contact: news@kentpanthers.com