Basketball in Africa

by Sande Bashaija
Kampala

November 26
Warriors v UCU Canons
Livingstone v St. Michael
KIU Rangers v KCC

Kyambogo Warriors coach Peter Wandukwa has blamed injuries and questionable officiating for his team’s failure to make the ongoing MTN-Fuba League final play-off series. Warriors, losing finalists last year, bowed out at the hands of Falcons at the penultimate stage.
“Okias (Steven) and Gumisiriza (Brian) were struggling with joint problems. And when two of your best players are injured, the team always falls short on confidence,” Wandukwa said.
Okias (above), the team’s leading scorer, sprained his right knee and ankle as Warriors went down 65-74 in game one of the best of three semifinals while Gumisiriza has been struggling with a knee injury throughout the season.

Though Okias, a three-time league top scorer, played a mediocre part, Warriors recovered to win game two 85-73 but ran out of steam in the decisive encounter last Sunday.
“It was a loss with strings attached. The refereeing was very pathetic. Everyone at Lugogo witnessed that Falcons got away with many fouls,” Wandukwa, who doubles as a referee stated.

Warriors’ stars Jude Ochen and Joshua Etalu were ejected from the third game after accumulating five personal fouls, while Ronnie Kasewu, arguably the best guard in Uganda nearly came to blows with referee Hamza Nyabongo. Warriors will now face UCU Canons next week to decide who finishes third.