Basketball in Africa

By Charles Mutebi

IT is hard to resist the feeling that the 2010 MTN-FUBA men’s topflight season will prove again that the more things change the more they remain the same. This is a new year but who can shake off the suspicion that the 2010 men’s playoff finals will have the same teams that ultimately fought for last year’s championship?

The Mountain Dew Falcons have the pedigree and have put together a new team that could surprise but it is unlikely they’ll be as strong as last season, where they came to within a game of making the finals.

KIU have balanced team
Similarly the KIU Titans have a roaster laden with skill and menace but there is a sneaky suspicion their self-belief needs to improve before they can become genuine championship contenders.

Nkumba Marines coach Timothy Odeke acknowledges that KIU showed signs of mental fragility in last year’s playoffs but believes they have a real possibility of reaching this year’s finals because “they are very strong in all departments”.

He added: “I’m really impressed with them and they have such a good team they will be hard to stop.”

Power and Warriors top
However, Odeke knows that if any two teams are to prevent KIU’s talented set from making a maiden finals appearance there are D’Mark Power and the Kyambogo Warriors.

“Power will definitely be in the finals because they have recruited good players who have strengthened every area of the team,” said the brilliant tactician. “The Warriors have not impressed me in the preseason but if (Martin) Okwako and (Ramadan) Dullah comeback, I think they will reach the finals.”

Miracle veteran Chris Kyebambe is similarly convinced that KIU could go all the way to the finals, probably alongside the Warriors.
“I can see KIU surprising someone and reaching the finals,” he said.

No doubt the Warriors and Power will have to look at Nimrod Kaboha’s side with more respect this season if they are to secure a return to the best-of-seven playoff finals.

Malingas key for Warriors
Consequently, Kyambogo will be expecting immediate returns from Henry and Eric Malinga as well as Pascal Alule, whom they signed in the off-season.

If Henry can fully recover from his second major knee-injury, the Warriors will be monstrous.

Power have signed Boniface Okello, Isaac Lugudde, Robert Mubiru, Emma Enabu while Carol Bisereko could also join them. Whether the coaching duo of Andrew Bazira and Bernice Ankunda will keep all the egos in check remains to be seen.

Obviously having a good squad is not equivalent to having a good team as Power have shown over the years but the difference now is they have the Blicks – Donna but especially Norman. The Blick brothers have won a championship wherever they have been.