19 April 2007
UGANDA : Marines Dare the Rest as the League Tips Off
By Gloria Kyomugisha
Kampala
CHAMPIONS Nkumba-Marines open their title defence against newly promoted MUK Youth Heaters when the national basketball league starts tomorrow at Lugogo.
Sadolin Power plays Knight Riders in the other men's game while KCC Leopards, who finished second in last year's league face league debutantes UCU in the women's match.Marines (who also claimed the 2005 championship) will be bidding to become only the second team since Falcons (2002-2004) to win the Federation of Uganda Basketball Association league title hattrick.
Sadolin Power, who have twice played second fiddle to the Marines (2005-2006) and Falcons, will have a good deal of positive deja vu to spur them on when they once again go title hunting in the 2007 season.
Seldom has a team dominated the sport as Marines have done in the past two years. But the basketball gods have dealt the Makerere Heaters a chance to hang with the big boys and an opportunity to challenge Marines' supremacy.
A good omen is that the Heaters managed to acquire the services of Power forward Michael Kariuki as well as speed merchants Allan Tawodda and Richard Balemwa during the transfer season.
In addition to their already solid front court of Joseph Ikong and Robert Mubiru, the Heaters should enjoy their first outing in the premier league.
Meanwhile, Falcons, who hold the record for achieving two back-to-back titles (1998-2000 and 2002-2004) have promised to regain their high profile years.
Last year's lowly team, Miracle, has taken a decision to reverse the tag, signing the likes of Chris Ocamringa and Solomon Ssali.
These could be abstract motivations that should give Power, Falcons, Warriors, Rhinos, Heaters, KIU and Miracle some hope of tying a knot in the Marines' tail.
Past league winners
2006-Marines
2005-Marines
2004-Falcons
2003-Falcons
2002-Falcons
2001-Sky Jammers
2000-Sadolin Power
Kampala
CHAMPIONS Nkumba-Marines open their title defence against newly promoted MUK Youth Heaters when the national basketball league starts tomorrow at Lugogo.
Sadolin Power plays Knight Riders in the other men's game while KCC Leopards, who finished second in last year's league face league debutantes UCU in the women's match.Marines (who also claimed the 2005 championship) will be bidding to become only the second team since Falcons (2002-2004) to win the Federation of Uganda Basketball Association league title hattrick.
Sadolin Power, who have twice played second fiddle to the Marines (2005-2006) and Falcons, will have a good deal of positive deja vu to spur them on when they once again go title hunting in the 2007 season.
Seldom has a team dominated the sport as Marines have done in the past two years. But the basketball gods have dealt the Makerere Heaters a chance to hang with the big boys and an opportunity to challenge Marines' supremacy.
A good omen is that the Heaters managed to acquire the services of Power forward Michael Kariuki as well as speed merchants Allan Tawodda and Richard Balemwa during the transfer season.
In addition to their already solid front court of Joseph Ikong and Robert Mubiru, the Heaters should enjoy their first outing in the premier league.
Meanwhile, Falcons, who hold the record for achieving two back-to-back titles (1998-2000 and 2002-2004) have promised to regain their high profile years.
Last year's lowly team, Miracle, has taken a decision to reverse the tag, signing the likes of Chris Ocamringa and Solomon Ssali.
These could be abstract motivations that should give Power, Falcons, Warriors, Rhinos, Heaters, KIU and Miracle some hope of tying a knot in the Marines' tail.
Past league winners
2006-Marines
2005-Marines
2004-Falcons
2003-Falcons
2002-Falcons
2001-Sky Jammers
2000-Sadolin Power
# posted by afrbk : 15:34
