Basketball in Africa

MTN-FUBA league
Lugogo today
Men
Warriors v Power (8pm)
Division Two
Vegetarian v Heaters (5pm)
Women
Cubs v Rhino

By Charles Mutebi

SADOLIN Power’s meeting with MTN-FUBA men’s division one leaders Kyambogo Warriors at Lugogo tonight is, all things considered, an opportunity for them to gauge their championship credentials.

Although Power have not yet qualified for the playoffs like the Warriors, the only team to do so, the two-time champions will qualify if they win two of their last three fixtures starting tonight. Power are third with 26 points from 15 matches, two behind Warriors.
With the Warriors having strolled through the regular season, in which they have lost only twice and not to any of their immediate title rivals, Power will give a hint of their strength if they claim victory.

But star forward Steven Okias revealed that the Warriors are ready to battle as they want to go into the playoffs strong.
“We have qualified (for the playoffs) but we don’t want to give teams the impression that they can beat us so we are taking this match seriously,” Okias explained.
The 2007 playoff finalists are in intense preparations for the Zone V clubs championships which start later this month in Ethiopia and Okias explained that they want to use this match to gauge their readiness for that task.
“We want to see if we are good enough to be in Ethiopia,” he said.
Power captain Isaac Afidra revealed before their last match that his team has prioritised qualifying for the playoffs and will ignore making any statements before the post season.
“What is important is what happens in the playoffs, not now,” he said.

Men’s second division outfits the Vegetarians and Makerere Heaters will also clash while Amazon Rhinos will face the Makerere Cubs in the women’s division.