Basketball in Africa

By Charles Mutebi

D’MARK Power insist they are happy to retain Andrew Bazira as coach despite recent reports of unrest in their camp.

In a press statement, the MTN-FUBA men’s Division One outfit moved to clarify that there “no changes in the coaching position at the club” –– a reaction to recent speculation linking them to Kyambogo Warriors boss Gad Eteu.

Power insist that “the individual in charge of coaching the team is Andrew Bazira” adding that he “understands the team philosophy and the strategic direction that the club is going into”.

The statement goes on to list Bazira’s achievements at the club, chiefly his contribution in leading them to the 2008 MTN-FUBA Championship as co-coach alongside Bernice Ankunda.
“The club at this point is not making coaching changes and has full faith in the abilities of coach Bazira to lead the team forward in 2010,” the statement added.
The club’s high ranking officials were overtly critical of the tactician during last year’s men’s playoff finals, which culminated in a 4-1 defeat against Kyambogo Warriors in a best-of-seven series.

After the defeat, it was almost certain Bazira would be replaced and the speculation linking Eteu with Power was hardly surprising.

MEANWHILE National MTN-FUBA women’s Division 1 basketball champions Kampala City Council (KCC) Leopards have stepped up their training programme ahead of the Inter Cities championships due in Mombasa on March 21-27, Aloysius Byamukama reports.
Leopards are having on-residential sessions along with KCC Lions in Kampala.

An official Dennis Karuhanga, said that the teams are focused on bringing glory to the country.
“We have shown some character locally and we therefore need to go out in the region and win titles,” Karuhanga explained.

Lions finished third to earn a bronze medal in last year’s event which Leopards missed.

The competition draws top teams from Africa’s Zone 5 that comprises Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Seychelles.