08 April 2009
UGANDA : Hoops league in balance
by Sande Bashaija
Kampala
The reconstruction of Lugogo Indoor stadium and YMCA Wandegeya courts has left the Federation of Uganda Basketball Associations (Fuba) in a dilemma.
The local governing body is sweating to get an alternative venue to host this year’s MTN-Fuba League games. “We are in talks with Makerere and Kampala International University (KIU) to see if we can have our league games there,” Fuba assistant general secretary Joseph Manano said yesterday.
The league, set to attract over 40 teams, would have started early last month but Fuba has now pushed it to April 25. “The president (Ambrose Tashobya) is in a meeting with YMCA management right now and we hope they can make the court available for us very soon,” Manano added.
YMCA management and Fuba reached an understanding late last year to have the basketball court upgraded but work at the site has since stalled. Yet, MTN also took over the reconstruction of Lugogo last year and the stadium can only be available for use next year.
Added to that, only 13 teams have returned registration forms confirming their participation in the league.
They include Miracle Eagles, Warriors, MBC Rocks, KIU (men and women), Crane High (men and women), Berkley, A-1 Challenge, St. Michael, Nkumba Marines, Charging Rhino and Amazon.
There are two newcomers; Diamond in the Sun and Kampala University. Former champions Sky Jammers are also making a comeback after a one-year sabbatical due to financial probes. They secured sponsorship from Hared Petroleum Limited.
Kampala
The reconstruction of Lugogo Indoor stadium and YMCA Wandegeya courts has left the Federation of Uganda Basketball Associations (Fuba) in a dilemma.
The local governing body is sweating to get an alternative venue to host this year’s MTN-Fuba League games. “We are in talks with Makerere and Kampala International University (KIU) to see if we can have our league games there,” Fuba assistant general secretary Joseph Manano said yesterday.
The league, set to attract over 40 teams, would have started early last month but Fuba has now pushed it to April 25. “The president (Ambrose Tashobya) is in a meeting with YMCA management right now and we hope they can make the court available for us very soon,” Manano added.
YMCA management and Fuba reached an understanding late last year to have the basketball court upgraded but work at the site has since stalled. Yet, MTN also took over the reconstruction of Lugogo last year and the stadium can only be available for use next year.
Added to that, only 13 teams have returned registration forms confirming their participation in the league.
They include Miracle Eagles, Warriors, MBC Rocks, KIU (men and women), Crane High (men and women), Berkley, A-1 Challenge, St. Michael, Nkumba Marines, Charging Rhino and Amazon.
There are two newcomers; Diamond in the Sun and Kampala University. Former champions Sky Jammers are also making a comeback after a one-year sabbatical due to financial probes. They secured sponsorship from Hared Petroleum Limited.
# posted by afrbk : 11:53
