Basketball in Africa

Today at 6pm
Warriors v Power

Norman Blick hates the fact that he hasn’t won the MTN-Fuba League title in almost four years. Reprieve is not far as the three-time champion faces his toughest challenge to date this evening. Blick, arguably one of Uganda’s greatest basketball players, must lift DMark Power from their mental abyss to reclaim the title from Kyambogo Warriors.

Power have plummeted in appalling fashion after taking a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven final series to hand Warriors a lifeline in the clash set for YMCA court, Wandegeya.
Even before Blick thinks about overcoming the odds against an extremely dogged side, the Power captain and his deputy Isaac Afidra may have to wait until a few hours to tip-off to know whether they will take to the floor.

The pair has been under investigation over allegations of attacking umpire Hamza Nyambogo after Wednesday’s 90-89 loss that ended in acrimonious fashion as Warriors tied the series at 3-3.

“In our routine, the technical committee sits only on Tuesday’s unless in extraordinary cases like this one. Because of this being a voluntary job, we failed to sit on Thursday night due to lack of quorum,” William Musaazi, the head of the board charged with issuing punishments, said. Fuba find themselves between a rock and a hard place to be swift like they were in the semifinal brawl involving Warriors and UCU Canons.

“Even if we don’t reach a decision prior to the start of the game, they can play and serve any sentence when it’s eventually given,” he added without giving any specifics on whether Fuba can beat the clock. In a series that has had more or less everything, Blick might need more consistency having started the finals with figures of 17, eight and 13 points in the first three games respectively. The two-time MVP did get better to post 29, 13 and 24 points in the subsequent defeats.

Both clubs are still holding firm on their stance not to allow players to speak to the media but Warriors’ Ronnie Kasewu could care less as he dreams of a second career title. Kasewu has scored 66 points and 28 rebounds in his team’s renaissance to ditch the quiet start to the post-season thereby accompanying MVP contender Abdullahi Ramadhan.

For Power, their hopes of revenge for last year’s 4-1 finals loss and the 2007 semifinal setback lie in Joseph Ikong and Ben Komakech conjuring up a big performance.
Not only will tears be seen for both the victors and losers tonight, a thrilling basketball season comes to an end. So sad!