18 April 2010
UGANDA : Who will rule the basketball roost?
Written by FELIX EUPAL
Sunday, 18 April 2010 15:58
If DMark Power’s 73-72 win over Warriors in the season opener is anything to go by, the FUBA basketball season that tipped off last weekend promises to be full of thrills. FELIX EUPAL analyses the chances of the Big 4.
KYAMBOGO WARRIORS
The jury is still out on defending champions Warriors to prove their worth after the acquisition of the Malinga brothers; Henry and Eric, Makmot Orom as well as the towering Kenyan Michael Kariuki. Gad Eteu’s team lacked depth last season and heavily relied on Tanzanian Ramathan Abdullahi and Kenyan Martin Okwako for success.
But there were a few things lacking such as experience and exposure justified by their failure to win a single game at the Africa Club Championship in Kigali. Team manager Ambrose Tashobya believes the Malingas will fill that void and the team should now be able to contend regionally.
They offloaded point guard Albert Aciko to Miracle Eagles, power forward Nelson Wafula, Francis Kasekende and Joseph Odyek. Pascal Alule from KIU will add more options for Eteu up front. But everyone knows that having a good squad is far from having a good team and Eteu, the 2009 coach of the year, has to prove that the accolade went to the right man by retaining the title.
DMARK POWER
The 2008 champions finally earned some bragging rights after their Sprite Challenge triumph but their coach Andrew Bazira has so many questions that he has not yet answered. After being sacked and then brought back on board, he has to earn the respect of the team.
Bazira will also have so many sleepless nights over the team selection of his squad after his club added five new players to their squad.
Robert Mubiru, Isaac Lugudde, Boniface Okello, Carroll Bisereko and Emma Enabu have made Power the team with the wealthiest bench. The jury has been out on him for lack of adequate technical expertise so blending all these new players with the old ones and turning them into championship side is the only option he has left.
KIU TITANS
Nimrod Kaboha made a massive statement last season when he guided his team to a nine game unbeaten game run to make it to the playoffs. But now he faces a big dilemma after losing his three most important players in Alule, Orom and Kariuki. As such, Tanzanian international Henry Mwinuka will have a lot of baggage on his shoulders.
The Kansanga boys might have won the UCU Invitational but Kaboha has to go back to the drawing if this is the season when he gets his maiden title in the bag.
MOUNTAIN DEW FALCONS
Falcons endured the biggest player exodus in the close season with Stephen Omony leading the way. Henry and Eric Malinga followed suit. But after losing ten players Michael Murethi’s long scouting spell finally materialized when the club captured six new high profile players just a day to the start of the league.
Players don’t come any bigger than Zone Five MVP John Omondi, former APR skipper Karim Musi, Mike Buzangu, Cedric Sinarinzi, Byeven Ngandu and Didier Gahorani. They joined 2003 MVP Sam Obol and Peter Elugat and will be out to revive their glory days that have seen the club win six championships in 12 seasons. Murethi’s first task is to ensure that his players blend well and get to play as a unit.
But it will take quite some time and everyone will be waiting to see if the Mountain Dew sponsored side will pull it off.
Sunday, 18 April 2010 15:58
If DMark Power’s 73-72 win over Warriors in the season opener is anything to go by, the FUBA basketball season that tipped off last weekend promises to be full of thrills. FELIX EUPAL analyses the chances of the Big 4.
KYAMBOGO WARRIORS
The jury is still out on defending champions Warriors to prove their worth after the acquisition of the Malinga brothers; Henry and Eric, Makmot Orom as well as the towering Kenyan Michael Kariuki. Gad Eteu’s team lacked depth last season and heavily relied on Tanzanian Ramathan Abdullahi and Kenyan Martin Okwako for success.
But there were a few things lacking such as experience and exposure justified by their failure to win a single game at the Africa Club Championship in Kigali. Team manager Ambrose Tashobya believes the Malingas will fill that void and the team should now be able to contend regionally.
They offloaded point guard Albert Aciko to Miracle Eagles, power forward Nelson Wafula, Francis Kasekende and Joseph Odyek. Pascal Alule from KIU will add more options for Eteu up front. But everyone knows that having a good squad is far from having a good team and Eteu, the 2009 coach of the year, has to prove that the accolade went to the right man by retaining the title.
DMARK POWER
The 2008 champions finally earned some bragging rights after their Sprite Challenge triumph but their coach Andrew Bazira has so many questions that he has not yet answered. After being sacked and then brought back on board, he has to earn the respect of the team.
Bazira will also have so many sleepless nights over the team selection of his squad after his club added five new players to their squad.
Robert Mubiru, Isaac Lugudde, Boniface Okello, Carroll Bisereko and Emma Enabu have made Power the team with the wealthiest bench. The jury has been out on him for lack of adequate technical expertise so blending all these new players with the old ones and turning them into championship side is the only option he has left.
KIU TITANS
Nimrod Kaboha made a massive statement last season when he guided his team to a nine game unbeaten game run to make it to the playoffs. But now he faces a big dilemma after losing his three most important players in Alule, Orom and Kariuki. As such, Tanzanian international Henry Mwinuka will have a lot of baggage on his shoulders.
The Kansanga boys might have won the UCU Invitational but Kaboha has to go back to the drawing if this is the season when he gets his maiden title in the bag.
MOUNTAIN DEW FALCONS
Falcons endured the biggest player exodus in the close season with Stephen Omony leading the way. Henry and Eric Malinga followed suit. But after losing ten players Michael Murethi’s long scouting spell finally materialized when the club captured six new high profile players just a day to the start of the league.
Players don’t come any bigger than Zone Five MVP John Omondi, former APR skipper Karim Musi, Mike Buzangu, Cedric Sinarinzi, Byeven Ngandu and Didier Gahorani. They joined 2003 MVP Sam Obol and Peter Elugat and will be out to revive their glory days that have seen the club win six championships in 12 seasons. Murethi’s first task is to ensure that his players blend well and get to play as a unit.
But it will take quite some time and everyone will be waiting to see if the Mountain Dew sponsored side will pull it off.
# posted by afrbk : 19:42
