Basketball in Africa

BAYA and Premium Cobras are soon to lose their foreign players whose next move is the United States of America (USA) in search of greener pastures.

Ugoh did not play a part in Baya’s 77-43 win over Cascade Bullets on Saturday July 15 but sat on the substitutes’ bench.

The tall Nigerian player leaves the country this coming Thursday to pursue his studies in Political Science at the Cougars of the Redlands Community College.

“If I get the chance to play basketball in the USA, I’ll do it. But my priority is to pursue my studies,” he told Sports Nation on Saturday.

The 20-year-old player, who arrived here in March 2005, added that “Baya are like my family. I’ll definitely come back and pay back the good things they have given to me.”

So far, Baya, whose first foreign recruit was Kenyan Dennis Opiyo in 2004 only to off-load him months later, have not chosen a replacement for Ugoh and it is not certain if they will bring in another foreign player.

Ugoh is set to meet fellow Nigerian Benjamin Adayehi who left Premium Cobras in July last year for the same college.

Current Men division 1A leaders Premium Cobras are set to lose centre/power forward Reuben Kolawole and shooting guard Mohamed Buhari Ozegya.

A defensive presence for Premium Cobras since his acquisition in April 2004, centre Kolawole is presently in Mauritius to get his paper in order and finalise his move to the USA.

During his time with Premium Cobras, Kolawole has won the President’s Cup, Men division 1A League, Seychelles Basketball Federation (SBF) Cup in 2004 and the Curtain-raiser tournament, Indian Ocean Club Championship (IOCC) and Top-of-the-table competition in 2005.

He won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) title in this year’s IOCC although Premium Cobras failed to defend their crown.

Mohamed Buhari Ozegya was acquired from Akure-based Ebun Comets in 2005 after his compatriot Adayehi left for the USA.

Buhari, 20, was a gold medallist with Nigeria in the African Under-21Championship in Senegal in 2004 and played on the Nigeria team who participated in the Under-21 World Basketball Championship in Argentina in 2005.

It is not clear when Kolawole and Ozegya are to leave the team, but what is certain is that Premium Cobras will be bringing back Abdallah ‘Dulla’ Ramadhan.

Known for his individual and stylish play, the Tanzanian was signed by Premium Cobras in 2001 but was off-loaded in March 2004.

He is expected here this coming Thursday.

By G. G.