13 May 2011
UGANDA : UCU Canons out to avenge Warriors loss
Written by Felix Eupal
If UCU Canons fans felt aggrieved when Kyambogo Warriors pipped them to a slot in last season’s playoff final, then words cannot begin to describe how they felt when they lost one of the Enabus – Ivan – to, yes, Warriors a few weeks back.
Clearly, UCU Canons faithful couldn’t wait to get their revenge. The fixtures of this season’s topflight basketball league have given them an opportunity at the soonest; the UCU Canons take on the Warriors this Friday. Many have dubbed the match as a Canons v Enabu affair. But not UCU coach, Nick Natuhereza.
“There is nothing personal in any way because Ivan (Enabu) left on good terms. So, it will be UCU v Warriors,” Natuhereza said.
Natuhereza, who still hurts from UCU’s loss to Warriors in last season’s playoff semis, says he is going to approach Friday’s match with a “very good defence and execution.”
And he will have a lot of resources at his disposal. UCU welcomes star point guard Suudi Ulanga, Desmon Owili and Robert Ogweno. Jeff Omondi, Martin Okwako and Adam Njoroge are the other high profile players that Natuhereza could turn to.
Mande Juruni doesn’t have as much resources as Natuhereza. The former UCU Lady Canons coach, Juruni replaced Gad Eteu at Warriors and early indications are that he has found the Kyambogo side as hot as a furnace. Already, critics have cited Juruni’s complacent nature as something that could cost the Warriors.
Juruni, who believes that basketball games are won off the boards, has a tough job to ensure that Warriors get over their disheartening rebounding. And with Henry Malinga not yet fully recovered from a knee injury, rebounding is still going to be an uphill task for Warriors.
Youngster Isaac Kamya is another hurdle for Juruni. The 18-year-old fresh from high school has no doubt about his talent but he has failed to turn it into results on the big stage. Having lost forward Joshua Etalu to KIU Titans, Warriors finds itself with not that many frontline options.
UCU will as such be out to exploit this weakness.
If UCU Canons fans felt aggrieved when Kyambogo Warriors pipped them to a slot in last season’s playoff final, then words cannot begin to describe how they felt when they lost one of the Enabus – Ivan – to, yes, Warriors a few weeks back.
Clearly, UCU Canons faithful couldn’t wait to get their revenge. The fixtures of this season’s topflight basketball league have given them an opportunity at the soonest; the UCU Canons take on the Warriors this Friday. Many have dubbed the match as a Canons v Enabu affair. But not UCU coach, Nick Natuhereza.
“There is nothing personal in any way because Ivan (Enabu) left on good terms. So, it will be UCU v Warriors,” Natuhereza said.
Natuhereza, who still hurts from UCU’s loss to Warriors in last season’s playoff semis, says he is going to approach Friday’s match with a “very good defence and execution.”
And he will have a lot of resources at his disposal. UCU welcomes star point guard Suudi Ulanga, Desmon Owili and Robert Ogweno. Jeff Omondi, Martin Okwako and Adam Njoroge are the other high profile players that Natuhereza could turn to.
Mande Juruni doesn’t have as much resources as Natuhereza. The former UCU Lady Canons coach, Juruni replaced Gad Eteu at Warriors and early indications are that he has found the Kyambogo side as hot as a furnace. Already, critics have cited Juruni’s complacent nature as something that could cost the Warriors.
Juruni, who believes that basketball games are won off the boards, has a tough job to ensure that Warriors get over their disheartening rebounding. And with Henry Malinga not yet fully recovered from a knee injury, rebounding is still going to be an uphill task for Warriors.
Youngster Isaac Kamya is another hurdle for Juruni. The 18-year-old fresh from high school has no doubt about his talent but he has failed to turn it into results on the big stage. Having lost forward Joshua Etalu to KIU Titans, Warriors finds itself with not that many frontline options.
UCU will as such be out to exploit this weakness.
# posted by afrbk : 19:03
