Basketball in Africa

Nelson Direng
Correspondent Meggi Monday, 27 June 2011

Spartans beat gallant Dolphins 62-59 in a closely contested basketball league game at the University of Botswana (UB) courts on Saturday. Many expected a walkover for Spartans but it was not to be as Dolphins showed resilience falling only three points short. The first quarter of the game ended 17-7 with Spartans securing an early lead against the youngsters.

Spartans' Clive Phiri was the first to score two successful free throws and his side races 13-1 lead in the fifth minute of the quarter. But Churchill Burrows sailed through the Spartans' defence to score and rally Dolphins to an impressive fight-back. As Dolphins were recovering, Spartans surprisingly pulled out powerful forward Robert 'Bendo' Mosalakatane.

In the second half, Phiri registered the first score for Spartans with Burrows responding immediately with the sole dunk of the game. Sensing danger, Spartans brought back Mosalakatane. The third quarter ended 53-36. In the last minute of the game, Dolphins were down 57-62 but scored a basket with 30 seconds remaining to end it 62-59. Spartans' forward Mothusi 'Speedy' Thipe said they dominated in the first half but in the last stages, their defence slowed down and they conceded easy balls.

He said that their intensity dropped, probably due to the cold weather. He applauded Dolphins for their fighting spirit. 'Dolphins are a much younger team than us, but they proved to have what it takes to play in the big league,' he said.

Kampala

Sunday result
M: Power71-66 KIU
W: KCC v UCU (post.)
Division Two
Vegetarian77-55 MBC
Division Three
Emperors104-54UPDF
S. Jammers56-80 City Oil
Planets51-52 TLC

There is something about DMark Power and performing below par in Sunday games, which they themselves just quite understand. The remedy seems to be far now but Power coach Bernice Ankunda didn’t care about the ugly nature of the 71-66 victory over KIU Titans in the MTN-Fuba League. Under lights, KIU, with only seven players, were quicker off the blocks to seize the first period 27-14 sending the crowd wild.

Silence filled YMCA court when the champions resumed normal service to control the final three quarters 26-17, 15-12 and 16-10. It was wretched performance which only had Richard Balemwa (13) and Jimmy Enabu stand out for Power offensively. Centre Robert Mubiru could have stolen the show with nine points and seven boards. Ankunda held his hand on his left cheek for most of the game as his side only shot 20 of 55 from the field and six of 27 from downtown.

Error-strewn game
Abraham Juma (14), Joshua Etalu (14), Moses Olobo (13) and Brian Wati (12) still don’t know how they ended up on the losing side in an error-strewn game where KIU committed 39 turnovers. The champions’ moved level with Miracle Eagles for the best start record in the league at 6-1 whereas KIU fell to 2-4. Umpire Baker Kyambadde took his share of the limelight for stopping the game when a section of Power fans abused him.

Results

Espoir 72-69 UNR
KBC 119-55 Rusizi
CSK 80-90 APR
Espoir 124-54 Rusizi
CSK 79-53 UNR

APR are running away the first leg of the national basketball league. The 2009 champions on Sunday won their seventh consecutive game. The army side APR bitter their rivals CSK with a ten-point difference (80-90).

But despite the win, which goes along way to confirm the former champions as the team to beat this season, APR’s head trainer, Cliff Owour, his team granted their opponents casual points.
“Although we won the game, we did not meet our objective. We usually asses a team and set a target but this time we didn’t play up to it,” Owour expressed.
After losing against APR, CSK consoled themselves with a win over the National University of Rwanda, NUR 79-53.
But Javier Kamanzi a.k.a Vava, CSK’s head coach, was more concerned with the injury to his team’s shooting guard Gerol Ndugu in the first quarter against APR.
“Althouh we were a bit exhausted after the APR game, we had to win the next against (against NUR), for which I’m happy we did,” Kamanzi noted.

In other games played the weekend, defending champions KBC thoroughly beat Rusizi 119-55. Rusizi later lost 124-54 to the youthful Espoir side.

APR lead the league table with 14 points, one ahead of CSK in second place. The National University of Rwanda is placed third with 9 points and a game in hand.

NAIROBI (Premier league) - Reigning women champions Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) beat Strathmore University 52-36 in a premier league in a match played at Nyayo National Stadium gymnasium.

It was a good harvest for the dock women KPA who also thrashed Mennonites 73-15 the previous day. The led 24-20 at the break before a third quarter surge saw them keep the students, previously unbeaten, scoreless for nearly six minutes.

KPA cruised away 40-24 and Strathmore never recovered.It was veteran players Joyce Makungu who hit 13and Mirriam Awuor who scored 11 to lift KPA. Faith Owich managed 12 for the Swords.

Against Mennonites a balanced attack from Awuor and Salma Akinyi who collected 11 points each and Volnet Wanyama who hit 10 did it for ports women who were ahead 40-6 at the break.

Co-operative Bank of Kenya had 16 points from on form Linda Alando, 13 from Caroline Achieng and 12 from Caroline Ouma as they whipped Predators 70-28 in a one sided show.

Reigning men champions Co-operative Bank of Kenya beat Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) to maintain their unbeaten run. The bankers trailed 30-31 at the break but pupped away in the last half to register their eighth successive win.

They now have 16 points from eight matches. Peter Kiganya nailed 16 points and towering Vak Bol aded 12. KPA had 15 fro Samuel Ochola and 12 from Sam Odera.

Ulinzi Warriors also ambushed Kenya College of Accountancy (KCA) University 49-41 despite trailing in the last two quarters. The soldiers were up 30-15 at half timer. They have 16 points from 10 games.

In Kakamega, former champions KCB Lions thrashed home side Masinde Muliro University of A 84-54. The bankers who have lost three games are third on 15 points.

Kenya Navy beat Umoja 60-48, University of Nairobi "Terrorists" torched Africa Nazarene University (ANU) 48-28 and Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) hit Parklands Baptist 68-53 as Kevin Otieno nailed 20 points.

Nairobi Aviation College (NAC) romped to a 65-52 win over the visiting Kenya Navy. Matches involving United States International University (USIU) Tigers against Mennonites and KPA men against Strathmore University were called as rains caused havoc in the gym.

Dann OWERRE
FIBA Africa

Written by Dorothy Kyamazima

Falcons have a new sponsor, coach and to spice it up, new players. In short, this just looks like the comeback season for the six-time record champions. Dorothy Kyamazima begs to differ.

Following the sudden and painful demise of club founder John Ssimbwa, the man left in charge of steering 7Up Falcons into a new era, Dennis Mbidde, seems to be making a quick fix. Mbidde, who is charged with ensuring a smooth transition for the once indomitable Falcons, made it clear he is ‘not here to stay.’

That said, he has wasted no time in trying to rejuvenate the team. First, he has got a new sponsor in 7Up, which has pumped Shs 130m into the team. Then again, the club also signed new players in Phillip Amenyi and Abdullah Ramathan, not to mention a new coach, Zsirivar Mwogi. The quickly assembled team raises a lot of questions.

For one, have all these players developed that particular bond? Half, if not the majority of the team, are newcomers. It is very obvious the secret weapon behind any team success is teamwork. However, with players that hardly know one another, Falcons is like an engine with no lubrication. How will Falcons soar to great heights with its new ensemble that lacks the chemistry?

Last Friday, they gave Kyambogo Warriors a scare and at one time led by 12 points before things quickly fell apart before losing the exciting tie. The idea of bringing in more players from abroad still sounds like a messy one at the moment. Mbidde says the team is still scouting for more talented players from as far as Nigeria and Angola.

How will a team whose chemistry is questionable be able to afford and work with such players? With Amenyi and Ramathan carrying the team on their shoulders, isn’t 7Up Falcons more likely to walk the same path as Miracle, which heavily depends on the top two players?

Against Warriors, the 33-year-old Ramathan led the team with 26 points while Amenyi also made his presence with 11 rebounds.

On the other hand, just when one might think it’s an identity crisis Falcons is facing despite their overly talented bench, the hopes of Falcons actually stepping into the playoffs will greatly be determined by Mwogi.

The former US college basketball player faces the challenge of getting acquainted with players. That said, there is hope Falcons will pull up its socks against defending champions D’Mark Power this Friday.

By Ismail Dhakaba Kigongo

Saturday results
Men
Ndejje 69-63 Rhino
Women
Sparks 104-48 Mak Cubs
KIU 71-48 Gladiators
Division 2
Kings 37-42 UCU JV
Diamonds 50-67 Stormers
Division 3
Sharing 59-53 Air Force
Jackets 53-58 K’la Univ
Ssaku 70-69 Livingstone
Crane High 39-45 Shooters

Playing in the MTN-Fuba League Division One for a third year running has taught Ndejje University Angels some big lessons which Charging Rhino might love to borrow soon.

There was so little to separate the two sides as they clashed on Saturday night until the former’s slight maturity enabled them prevail 69-63 over the newly-promoted side.

In a close game written in the opposing number nine jerseys, it was Cyrus Kiviri who proved decisive as Mark Opio left the game way before the final buzzer on a relatively poor night.

Kiviri scored 16 points and eight assists whereas Opio managed 15 but was betrayed by committing six turnovers.
Ndejje left YMCA court satisfied having improved their season to 4-2. Only Miracle Eagles (6-1), Kyambogo Warriors (5-1) and champions DMark Power (4-1) boast better starts.
“In all the six games we have played, we could have easily ended up 0-6 so it’s a good situation to find ourselves in,” Walker Obedi, the Ndejje coach, said. He could be forgiven for momentarily forgetting that his side still has to play Miracle, Warriors and Falcons (2-3) to wrap up their first round schedule.

It was understandable since they took the first period 16-12 only for Rhino to hit back 16-16 and 20-15 in the subsequent two.
However, like they have done almost all season, Rhino lost colour in the final period for Ndejje to close out the game 22-15.
The latter even had near-perfect shooting of free throws making 15 of 19 as opposed to Rhino managing 15 of 25. In addition, Kiviri can look back at the efforts of Crispin Biko and Jeje Chaka, who both matched his 16-point tally. Herbert Akita (10) was the only one to significantly make an offensive contribution for former champions Rhino.

In the women’s league, Monica Apaco (34) and Helen Tebyasa (22) combined for more than half the tally in Makerere Sparks’ 104-48 rout of sister club Cubs. The win healed Sparks’ nerve-wrecking 44-42 loss to A1 Challenge on Friday.

Kampala

Results
M: Warriors92-77Falcons
W: A1 44-42 Mak Sparks
Today at YMCA
M: Power v KIU (7.30pm)
W: KCC v UCU (5.30pm)
Division Two
Vegetarianv MBC (1.30pm)
Division Three
Emperors v UPDF (3.30pm)
S. Jammersv City Oil(11.30am)
Planets v TLC (9.30am)

Kyambogo Warriors showed their former star Abdullahi Ramadhan that they can function without him on Friday night at YMCA court. On his debut for 7UP Falcons, Dulah, as he is known, almost made his former teammates look inferior before they found his anti-dote to defeat his new team 92-77 in the MTN-Fuba League.

Prior to ex-Falcon Carlos Ochi coming on to mark him, Dulah scored 17 points in the first quarter only to finish with 26, four rebounds and seven assists. “I never felt tired though the coach took me off. It was only the first game and things will get better,” Dulah, a Warrior for the past two years, said.

In their first game since the death of founder John Ssimbwa (RIP), Falcons emerged from the minute-silence more vibrant to take the first period 30-18. That’s the last they looked really competitive. Through Eric Malinga’s 26 points, Warriors controlled the rest of the proceedings to clinch the final three 22-11, 26-16 and 26-10.

All this was crowned by Ivan Enabu (8) dummying Dulah to play a no-look pass under the armpit to an onrushing Eric to slam it home with the Tanzanian guard still holding to the rim. A play of the day!
Coach Mandy Juruni utilised the depth of his side greatly. Brian Gumisiriza (13), Henry Malinga (12), Michael Kariuki (12), a half-fit Ronnie Kasewu (11) and Steven Okias (10) punished Falcons’ thinness.
Warriors got more second chance points by picking 30 offensive boards as opposed to the latter’s 22.

Today at YMCA
Men
Ndejje v Rhino (7.30pm)
Women
Sparks v Mak Cubs (5.30pm)
KIU v Gladiators (1.30pm)
Division 2
Kings v UCU JV (3.30pm)
Diamonds v Stormers (11.30am)
Division 3
Sharing v Air Force (2pm)
Crane v Stormers (12pm)
Jackets v K’la Univ. (10am)
Ssaku v Stone (9.30am)

Both Ndejje University Angels and Charging Rhino have had commendable starts to the MTN-Fuba League even though the latter have won only one game.
Two young sides, who play to please the crowd, clash at YMCA court today in what promises to be a thrilling game capable of swinging either way.
Ndejje prepared for this by beating KIU Titans 70-61 while Rhino grabbed an even bigger scalp in defeating giants Kyambogo Warriors 82-68.

That’s been the story of the season so far – one brilliant performance is often followed by an average show.

The country’s women’s and men’s pre-selections are to leave the country next week to attend a two-week training camp in Rouen, France.

The training camp forms part of the Seychelles teams’ preparation for the forthcoming 8th Indian Ocean Island Games which will take place here from August 5-14
The female players making the trip are Simone Malbrook, Lucia Souffe, Geneviève Beaudouin, Magdeline Julienne, Dinah Louis, Lindy Mathiot, Williana Dubois, Sherifah Agathine, Jenita Toussaint, Zera Fontaine, Beguitta Fontaine, Tessa Mathiot, Katherina Morel, Veena Panagary, Bernadette Songor and Myra Solin. They will be accompanied by head coach Phillip Arissol and assistant Tony Juliette.

Under the guidance of head coach Clifford Joubert and assistant Michel Malbrook, the men’s team comprise Reggie Ah-Kong, Sergio Ah-Kong, Arnaud Arissol, Bernard Bristol, Giovanni Laval, Nigel Cafrine, Amadou Sylla, Cyril Agrippine, Dominic Pillay, Nigel Sinon, Darren Lesperance, Ron Estico, Daniel Victor, Robert Léon, Neddy Fanchette and Abdel Sylla.

Technical advisors Paul Denis and Dominique Gueret are also making the trip.

GENEVA (IOC) - Dr Nadouvi Lawson Body, the president of Togo's Basketball Federation, on Thursday was at the International Olympic Committee (IOC) headquarters in Lausanne to receive her trophy as winner of the 2011 IOC Women and Sport Award for Africa.

Dr Lawson Body, who is also the Vice-President of Togo's National Olympic Committee, was presented the award by Anita DeFrantz - the IOC member and Chair of the IOC Women and Sport Commission Anita DeFrantz - for her outstanding contribution to basketball and sports overall in her country.

As the first-ever woman to serve as president of a sporting federation in Togo, Dr Lawson Body is a great example to follow.

On Friday, she stopped by FIBA's headquarters in Geneva where she was congratulated by FIBA Secretary-General and IOC member Patrick Baumann.

She took time to answers questions for FIBA.com.

FIBA: Dr Lawson Body, congratulations on your award. Can you tell us what this honour means to you?
Dr Lawson Body: Thank you very much. It was very important to receive this award because it shows that what I have accomplished in Togo has been recognised beyond my country's borders. So this award is a coronation and the reward of what I have done since I started getting involved in basketball a decade ago.

It also rewards what we have done in promoting women in the sport, both in terms of them playing basketball and also being involved in the offices, in the administrative side. The activities of our federation show that we really are pushing the development of women as referees and as coaches as well as the women's teams. Also, in my administration, great efforts have been made to promote the place and the role of women in the offices of the federation, something which was not easy at all under the previous president.

FIBA: After winning this award, what message do you want to send out to women in Togo, in Africa and throughout the rest of the world?
Dr Lawson Body: The message I want to send out to women is to dare to try. It's very hard to see women in positions of power in the world of sports because there are so many men and they may not always want you to see the women, particularly in Africa. But the message is for women to dare to try - whether they're trying to play a sport or trying to run the administrative side of a sport federation.

When you get to that level of running a federation, it's still very hard because a woman running a sport entity is not easy. But there are some advantages. For example I think I'm able to open doors that perhaps men can't open, especially when you talk about sponsorship or partnerships. Sometimes, when a woman is there to run an account with a company, there's more trust. But overall, you really have to dare because I really think that women can show they can be men's equal.

FIBA: Can you explain your rise in power in the world of Togo sports administration? What have been the major steps in reaching your current positions?
Dr Lawson Body: I went up the ladder step by step. I wasn't a basketball player so I started out my involvement in the sport as president of the club my kids played in. I started some activities there which were successful and, as a result of what I brough to the club, the basketball league in the capital city of Lome contacted me and offered me to run it. I did so for two years.

From there, people started telling me that I could do a lot of good for the national federation. I received a lot of support and that's how I became the first female president of a sports federation in Togo. The success I have had then led to my being offered the position of Vice-President of the National Olympic Committee.

FIBA: Does being President of the national Basketball Federation and Vice-President of the National Olympic Committee at the same time have advantages?
Dr Lawson Body: There are advantages because if you have goals and are looking for opportunities for development and training or formation (of referees, coaches, players), you can see what basketball has to gain. That is what has allowed our federation to benefit from the Olympic Solidarity.

FIBA: What have been the best moments of your presidency so far?
Dr Lawson Body: The best moment of my presidency really stands alone and that's Togo's men's national team qualifying for the Afrobasket. We haven't competed in the tournament in more than 30 years and we really haven't been anywhere on the map of African basketball in that period of time. We were left behind in terms of infrastructures and modernisation. We didn't really follow that up and so basketball had really hit rock bottom in the country.

When I arrived, I made the infrastructures and the training my priorities but I also said that before my term came to an end, we had to make sure that we qualified for Afrobasket. And that's been the biggest moment.

We have trained five commissioners. Before our administration, there had never been a single basketball commissioner in Togo. So we have done a lot of good things, but Togo qualifying for Afrobasket is the coronation really because it's what you see and that's what helps to grow the sport.

Football is our measuring stick and we see ourselves as being the number two sport in the country behind it. However, basketball is the only team sport in which Togo has qualified for African Continental Championships. SO we're trying to position basketball right behind football and we're accomplishing that.

FIBA: Have you set any particular goals for the team going to Afrobasket?
Dr Lawson Body: The goal for the team going to Madagascar is to finish mid-table. We're not going to come home with the winner's trophy, but at the same time we don't want to finish last either. This is our first participation in more than 30 years so we're thinking that we need to show we can accomplish something. Let's show that we belong. And that will allow Togo to try to qualify for upcoming competitions because the state and our partners will have confidence in us. So we're hoping that we can come away from Madagascar with an honourable mention.

FIBA: What is the state of women's basketball in Togo at the moment?
Dr Lawson Body: The level of play in women's basketball isn't high enough at the moment so we won't qualify for competitions. It's not easy to get basketball at the level it needs to be especially for women. You have to keep in mind that basketball is not professional in Togo. It's amateur for both men and women so we have a lot of students. The men's team to play at Afrobasket will consist of six ex-pats and six local players.

FIBA: You have organised a women's basketball tournament that you hold on International Women's Day. Can you tell us more about it?
Dr Lawson Body: Yes but really what we do on that day goes beyond basketball. We organise a women's basketball tournament and invite all the women who are CEOs, heads of companies and also women ministers to come and take part. We find sponsors for the teams. The goal is to promote women in their professions.

We look to reward women who work in areas where you wouldn't usually find them. For example women who are lorry or truck drivers, women who are mechanics and so on. We want to get awareness about it because it's something that goes unnoticed. So the tournament is a big celebration of women. We have women referees, women coaches...it's a celebration of the diversity of professional women.

FIBA: Overall how do you see the state of basketball in Togo?
Dr Lawson Body: Basketball is definitely growing. Four years ago basketball was nowhere and had no sense of direction. Back then the national federation had no offices. Now, thanks to FIBA Africa we have offices. We didn't have indoor or covered courts. Now we have those and we can have competitions and raise the level of play.

So basketball is definitely growing and on the rise. Now, with the help of the sponsors and our peers - FIBA Africa, FIBA and the Olympic Solidarity - I really believe that we can develop basketball that much more.

Royal Hoopers basketball club of Port Harcourt Thursday compounded the fortune of former champion of the Nigeria DStv Premier Basketball League, Kano Pillars basketball club with an 82-79 points victory to stop the former champion from advancing to the semi-finals stage of the 2010/2011 season of the DStv PBL Final-8 Playoffs in Lagos.

The win over Pillars by the Hoopers gave them the top spot in the group going into the semi-finals which has been schedule for Saturday at the sport hall of the national stadium, Lagos.

Royal Hoopers who was beaten to the Nigeria domestic league title last seaon in Port Harcourt found Lagos a willing venue to pay Pillars back in it own coin not even Pillars guard and reigning leading scorer of Africa Champions Cup competition, Abubakar Usmans 40 points of the night could stop the Pillars from defeat as the Hoopers players match them skill for skill with motion offense.

The former champion took the first and third quarters by 25-21 and 22-20 points as both sides tied the second quarter at 17 points apiece with the Coach Ogoh Odaudu tutored Hoopers picking the last quarter by 24-15 points for a final score line of 82-79 to set up a semi-finals clash against Kada Stars basketball club of Kaduna.

The first semi-final pairing will see Atlantic conference leader, Union Bank basketball club of Lagos who rose from its Wednesday shock defeat to Comets basketball club to defeat Kada Stars BC by 88-71 points will do battle against surprised semi-final qualifier Dodan Warriors basketball club of Lagos who prove book makers wrong after dropping its first two group-B games to Kano Pillars and Royal Hoopers to humble giant killing Yelwa Hawks basketball club of Bauchi by 87-62 points to go through on the head-to-head rule between it Pillars and Hawks as the three sides finished the preliminary round with one win and two loses.

Royal Hoopers team manager, Ifie Ozaka is confident his side has what it takes to win the title this season declaring that this is Hoopers year.

With great respect to other teams in this season playoffs we beleive our team has the best chances of winning the league this time.

The Port Harcourt-based side who intend to stage the final round of the FIBA Africa Champions Cup competition later in the year must not underrate it semi-final foe Kada Stars who parade one of the youngest team in the playoffs.

DAY-1 Result
GAME-1: Royal Hoopers 80-65 Yelwa Hawks (B)
GAME-2: Kada Stars 57-55 Comets (A)
GAME-3: Kano Pillars 76-67 Dodan Warriors (B)
GAME-4: Union Bank 63-55 Bauchi Nets (A)

DAY-2 RESULTS
GAME-5: Kano Pillars 73-74 Yelwa Hawks (B)
GAME-6: Kada Stars 67-64 Bauchi Nets (A)
GAME-7: Dodan Warriors 66-82 Royal Hoopers (B)
GAME-8: Union Bank 50-59 Comets (A)

DAY-3 Results
GAME-9: Union Bank 88-71 Kada Stars (A)
GAME-10: Bauchi Nets 62-61 Comets (A)
GAME-11: Dodan Warriors 87-62 Yelwa Hawks (B)
GAME-12: Kano Pillars 79-82 Royal Hoopers (B)

Semi-Final Saturday 25/06/2011
Union Bank Vs Dodan Warriors15H00
Kada Stars Vs Royal Hoopers17H00

Today at YMCA
Men
Warriors v Falcons
(8.30pm)
Women
A1 v Sparks
(6.30pm)
Division III results
Jackets 66-71 City Oil
Bush Court 71-53 TLC

Three years after their last MTN-Fuba League finals appearance, Falcons don’t look any bit like a team whose drought is about to end. That loss to Power in 2008 might have faded but the start to this season could be changed by events of the past week.

The signing of guard Abdullahi Ramadhan and forward Philip Alweny has raised expectations as they seek to close the gap on the recent duopoly of Kyambogo Warriors and DMark Power.

Most of the attention will be reserved for Ramadhan, commonly referred to as Dulah, when Falcons face his former side Warriors at YMCA court today. “There won’t be any miracles. (Success) is not a matter of days or weeks,” Dulah, who spent the past two years with Warriors, winning one title, said. Starting tonight, Dulah might sort out Falcons’ inability to create plays. “He is the kind of player who releases the ball and is very experienced,” said Kenyan Richard Osano Omondi in welcoming his new teammate. Alweny, too, improves their size where Warriors hold a huge advantage in the Malinga brothers – Eric and Henry – and Michael Kariuki.

Enabu boost
However, the return to fitness of guard Ivan Enabu is the real boost to add to the armoury of Ronnie Kasewu. Beating champions Power 93-80 gave Warriors a huge lift before newly-promoted Charging Rhino deflated the good feeling in coach Mandy Juruni’s first season. Their season is now 3-1.
“Even with the new additions, I still think we are the better team. The psyche within the team is like what we had against Power,” Juruni warned. Unlike him, his opposite Zsirivar Mwogi is only acclimatising to coaching Falcons, who are playing their first game since the death of their patron John Ssimbwa. The club proprietor and financier passed away on June 12 due to brain damage.

Ssimbwa treated his players like a father and the team has vowed to win the championship in his memory. Their credentials will be tested sternly tonight.

Written by Dorothy Kyamazima

After struggling to buy a win – they have just the two of them from four matches – Mountain Dew Falcons have acquired the services of Abdullah Ramadan (an ex-Warrior) and Phillip Ameany (formerly of UCU) to drag them out of an abyss.

Falcons’ president, Dennis Mbidde, believes the two players will write fantastic chapters for his club. He says: “We lacked big men…as much as we are talented, versatile players like Abdullah Ramadan and Phillip will give us that edge”.

To ensure that both Ramadan and Ameany deliver the goods in the paint, it has been reported that Falcons are on the verge of acquiring the services of Zsirizar Mwogi, a New York-based coach.
Relying on Mwogi’s playing experience back in the States and coaching expertise, Mbidde strongly believes the man from the Big Apple can help Falcons record more wins in its upcoming games.

Even though he is a new face on the basketball scene, Mwogi has yet to prove that he is the right man for the job. Mwogi, however, is adamant that he fits the bill. He adds that Falcons needs more time to build the chemistry that it needed to take this season by storm.
“Falcons are a very talented team and if they listen to me carefully, we shall win,” he says.
They will have to listen to him real fast as they play 2009 champions Kyambogo Warriors on Friday. It will be a mouth-watering match for the fans, but a testing moment for Ramadan. The Tanzanian who will be sporting Falcons colours was as recent as last year a Warrior.

That he left in mysterious, if not acrimonious, circumstances means that he should brace himself for some rough treatment from Warriors’ faithful.

RWANDA’s national basketball team Coach Vaceslav Kavedzija has summoned 19 domestic players to start training ahead of the 10th edition of the All Africa Games due September 3-18 in Maputo, Mozambique.

The Serbian explained to Times Sport that, “We have to start preparations as early as possible so that we are ready for the tournament come September.”

Rwanda opens her quest against Central African Republic.

Rwanda qualified for the quadrennial games after clinching the Zone V championship title in February. To lift the title, Rwanda beat Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda at Amahoro indoor courts.
Assisted by Prosper Mihigo and Cyrille Kalima, Kavedzija commenced training Monday evening and is expected to beef up the squad by calling up the experienced foreign-based trio of Mathieu Miller (Europe), Hamza Ruhezamihigo (Canada) and Robert Thompson (Romania).
Training sessions are held on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Meanwhile, the women side will be coached by former Croatian international Nedad Amanovic.
Among other achievements, the 51-year-old won nine Croatian and Yugoslavian league titles with different clubs between 1987 and 2011.

Provisional squad:
APR - Kami Kabangu, Rafiki Muhammed, Deo Nkurikiyinka, Theotime Murihira; CSK - Abubakar Barame, Karim Nkusi, Lionel Hakizimana, Dan Manzi; ESPOIR - Aristide Mugabe, Pascal Karekezi Rurangirwa, Ronald Karenzi, Christopher Wazayira, Jean Louis Habineza; KIE - Neston Manzi, Patrice Twagirayezu, Eric Ngenzi; KBC - Fiston Muhire, Sunny Niyomugabo and National University of Rwanda (NUR)’s Olivier Muhizi

Kampala

Today (Division III)
Jackets v City Oil (8.30pm)
Bush Court v TLC (6.30pm)

He gets cheered and booed in equal measure but all the same, Tanzanian Abdullahi Ramadhan has grown to love playing in Uganda. Dulah, as he is fondly known, is back.

After two seasons in the blue and white stripe of Kyambogo Warriors, he has now chosen the red and white of Falcons. “I am happy to be here again. I will sign a contract very soon and hopefully, it’s before Friday (when Falcons face Warriors),” Dulah told Daily Monitor yesterday. His contract with the team he led to their first and only title two years ago was not renewed following the 4-3 final series loss to DMark Power last December.

Just after those finals, Warriors patron Ambrose Tashobya divulged to this newspaper the need to cut down the expenditure at the club. In their title winning season, they signed on Dulah and Martin Okwako, now with UCU Canons. “It’s not cheap having full-time professionals unless you generate the money,” Tashobya said then.

Sources intimate that Dulah was paid close to Shs1.2m in monthly salary during his two years at Warriors though Falcons are not willing to reveal any financial details. In addition to the guard, Falcons also got former UCU forward Philip Alweny. Club president Denis Mbidde is adamant they got the right men. “We have added experience, size, maturity and precision.”

Dulah couldn’t agree more. “I know Falcons is a good team. All it needs now is leadership. I really love the basketball here and everything else so coming back to Uganda was an easy decision.”

NAIROBI (Premier League) - Ulinzi Warriors have moved to the top of the premier league thanks to a 59-33 win over Blazers at Nyayo National Stadium gymnasium.

The soldiers, who last occupied the top spot in 2006, led 22-11 in a low scoring first half. William Ochieng continued to impress with 22 points while Ancette Wafula collected another 11 for Ulinzi who are now top with 15 points from nine matches.
Mutwiri Kiogora finished high-scorer for Blazers with 13.

KCB Lions suffered a 66-67 nerve raking loss to Thunder who went ahead 31-28 at the break and took the first three quarters. Griffin Ligare made two foul shots to give Thunder maximum points. Paul Oloo faltered in his own attempts from the line as time ran out. James Omune managed 18 points while Sammy Kirya bagged 12. Juma Ikapian scored 19 and Roy Kahure shot 17.

Thunder struck Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) 89-64.

After stiffling KCB Lions 67-66 the previous day, Thunder were in no nonsense mood taking a 53-32 lead at half time before killing off the Kakamega based students with ease.

Griffin Ligare and James Omune collected 18 points while Phil Dinga managed 14. Fred Osore hit 16 and Wena Sialo bagged 12 for the sad MUST who lost both of their games this week.

United States International University (USIU) roared to a 64-52 win over fellow students Strathmore University. Leading a 36-27 at the break, Tigers roared away with Neville Odhiambo scoring 23 points while Evas Leting and Chris Mulumba collected 15 a piece. Tony Abondo made 16 and Valentine Nyakinda shot 15.

Mennonites continued their great run winning 76-67 over Masinde Muliro University of Agriculture and Technology (MMUST). Steve McOdongo made 18 points and Collins Ouko added 16 for Knights who led 40-30 at the breather and now lie third ahead of KCB on 14 points. Alex Lugasi made the students 26.

In the women's premier, Co-operative Bank of Kenya whipped Kenya College of Accountancy (KCA) University 69-29 as Emma Nyakweba made a triumphant return with 14 points, Caroline Ouma shot 12 and Irene Makori added 10.

Gladiators beat Mennonites 57-37 racing away after a closely fought 26-19 half time difference. Michele Otinda bagged 16 points and Pam Cinda scored 13 for the winners while Lynette Atieno collected 13 and Sarah Anyango 12 for the Knights.

National team star guard Hilda Indasi posted 15 points as USIU who also got a lift from Sajda Ahmed hit Sprite Storms 42-38. Sylvia Omollo registered 11 points for the losers who trailed 23-18 at half time.

By Prisca Malekela
The Citizen Correspondent
Dar es Salaam. More than 50 pupils from various schools in Dar es Salaam converged at Tanganyika International School yesterday for the opening of a series of basketball clinics.

Conducted by the national team coach, Bahati Mgunda, the clinics are aimed at promoting the sport from the grassroots and giving the youngsters an opportunity to learn the basics of basketball.
“Participating pupils are aged between 14 and 18. Those who will excel during the two-week training would secure scholarship to Canada for further training at Memorial Newfound University,” Mgunda said.
He could not conceal his disappointment over the failure by young players from upcountry, who opted to skip the event in the eleventh hour.The coach said those who will travel to Canada would undergo a series of training sessions under Peter Benoite, one of the best basketball coaches in Canada.

Sunday results
M: Marines 74-82 Miracles
W: Nabisunsa 74-55 Gladiators
Division 2
St. Michael 66-54 Diamonds
Stormers 54-44 Kings
Division 3
Livingstone 52-48 Sharing
Air Force 36-37 Crane High

Stephen Omony and Norman Blick didn’t check in for Miracle Eagles until the second quarter of their MTN Fuba League game with Nkumba Marines on Sunday night.

None of them looked worried when Miracle had a slow start except Colin Mukiza. They did come on to turn a small deficit into a double digit lead (53-40) at halftime. Omony finished with 18 points and seven rebounds whereas Blick got 14 to give Miracle an 82-74 victory in the MTN-Fuba League.

The play-off hopefuls have now won six on the bounce to ensure that the opening day loss to DMark Power looks like a result of eons past. This was much closer than they would have wanted it to be after Mukiza launched the onslaught with 14 points and 10 assists.

Marines took the first period 16-12 but trailed 14-29 in the second. A late fight back made the game exciting but Miracle had enough depth to close out the game.

NELSON DIRENG
Correspondent Mmegi

BDF V left the University of Botswana (UB) basketball courts with their heads down after they were drubbed 101-54 by Spartans in an action packed Botswana Basketball Association (BBA) League game on Wednesday night.

After the encounter, the military men failed to swallow their pride and refused to shake hands with the youngsters - as is norm after each game - hurriedly leaving the courts in shame.

BDF V's reaction to the results was however not surprising as they had gone into the game with high hopes of leaving the victorious side. The first few minutes of the game's first quarter were intense as both sides showed eagerness to win. But it was BDF V's Karekwe Bob who registered the first basket.

The game thereafter gained momentum as Spartan's Clive Phiri replied with a basket. An exchange between the two teams followed as each answered basket for basket. BDF V lost concentration in the last five minutes of the first quarter and this is when Spartans took advantage and finished with a comfortable 28-13 lead, thanks to star shooters Mothusi 'Speedy' Thipe and Robert Mosalakatane, who scored a total of 18 baskets.

Spartans seemed to have realised that BDF V were no match for them in the second quarter as the team started playing a game they were clearly enjoying. The youngsters dribbled the frustrated soldiers and destroyed their morale. BDF V started playing under pressure and made silly mistakes that cost them several points. They were only able to score 11 baskets whilst Spartans scored 23 points ending the quarter 51-24.

Phiri's height seemed to have been a great advantage as he blocked most of BDF V's baskets and was also available to finish off whenever his team mates' balls failed go through the net. Towards the end of the second quarter, the comfortable Spartans decided to substitute Thipe and Mosalakatane to pave the way for players who rarely taste games in the likes of Paule Jovanovic and Thabang Ncube.

The change slowed down the pace of the game and worked well for BDF V in the third quarter. Thipe and Mosalakatane charged back into the game but BDF V had already gained momentum. BDF V however failed to use their form to score necessary points, ending the quarter with 38 baskets to Spartans' 66.

The last quarter was slow but with the return of Thipe and Mosalakatane, Spartans were able to increase their lead further. BDF V fell back and because of frustration they committed fouls that helped Spartans consolidate their lead. In the last two minutes of the game, BDF V were down 51-88 but for Spartans that was not enough as their plan was to hit the 100 baskets mark. Mosalakatane received a knock, which saw him off the field but that did not dampen the team's spirits.

In the last 14 seconds, Spartans had reached 99 baskets. Thipe was fouled in the game's last second and he was able to score two goals that put his side at 101 baskets. BDF V coach Kenosi Moruakgomo said he realised his charges had long lost the game in the first quarter. He said the team made many mistakes and had lots of turnovers. 'Most of our good point guards were also not available for the game and the ones we used were a bit slow,' he said.

Moruakgomo said because of this, their defensive and offensive rebounding was poor. He, however, acknowledged that Spartans are a better team and that they could not match their fast breaks. 'One-on-one they beat us point blank because of their individual skills,' he said. Meanwhile, Spartans sit at number 10 on the log after winning four of five games they have played since the commencement of the league. BDF V are in fifth place after playing eight games and loosing half of them.

Flames, troopers and Falcons are on positions one to three. In the Women's League, BDF V are the only unbeaten side so far. Debutants Panthers are in second place after loosing one game to fourth-placed Police a fortnight ago. NIIT are third whilst Relics and Splinters are fifth and sixth respectively.

Weekend Fixtures (UB)

1800hours: Police vs NIIT
2000hours: Troopers vs Drillers

1600hours: NIIT vs BDFV
1800hours: Relics vs BDFV (Ladies)
2000hours: Cadets vs BDFV

Topflight returnees have failed to live up to the pre-season hype, writes Dorothy Kyamazima

Even with two wins from five league games, Charging Rhino have not yet fallen short of their ambition. While it might be too early to predict the fate of any team in the league, especially one that has just crossed over from second division to the heat of the first division, Rhinos has repeatedly made its presence felt and if anything, has grabbed the attention of the big contenders in the league.

With a group of skilled players, Charging Rhino laid down a strong marker when they defeated the 2009 Fuba basketball champions, Kyambogo Warriors by a staggering 14 points. Skipper Mark Opio, last year’s reigning MVP and top scorer in the second division, managed a whopping 20 points.

He had an able supporting cast of Walter Omony and Fahmy Ssebatindira who made 17 and 12 points respectively to put a halt to Warriors’ winning streak. Although Warriors attributed their loss to the ghastly condition of the court after the heavy downpour, Opio says the big scalp came as no surprise; he expects Charging Rhino to thrive whilst sporting the underdogs tag.

Opio, however, reckons Charging Rhino players don’t have to get carried away for they lack the size and experience of most of their peers in the first division. Even with new players like Rashid Male, Abel Omongin, Joseph Odyek, Fahmy Ssebatindira, Joseph Bongomin, Nasser Katumba, Brian Cucu and Erau Timothy, Charging Rhino has managed to form the chemistry needed to thrive in the first division.

It was this chemistry that gave reigning champions D’Mark Power a scare recently. Power had to work their socks off to secure a two-point victory off a plucky Charging Rhino.

That said, however, the chance to participate in this year’s playoffs lingers in their minds and many pundits expect them to be involved in a relegation dogfight. Former Coach John Omondi, who scooped the Coach of the Year award, was the brains behind the Rhino’s remarkable drift into local basketball’s topflight league.

Though Omondi gave up his seat to his replacement, Mutebi Rooney, the latter doesn’t seem to be doing a bad job. Critics, however, contend that Mutebi lacks the necessary credentials needed to steer the team to greater heights.

Results
M: UCU 94-50Heaters
W: Mak Cubs11-92 A1
Division Two
Riders 58-64Rez Life
UCU JV 59-52 MBC
Division Three
UPDF 49-66 Jackets
Shooters 82-51 Planets

Seeing Martin Okwako limp off in the third quarter being supported by UCU Canons teammates took away a slice of the happiness they earned for winning their first game in four.
Okwako hurt his knee in a collision with Heaters’ William Ogwang that appeared innocuous. It was a lowlight in a dominant 94-50 victory in the MTN-Fuba League on Saturday night.
An assessment of the injury sustained by the Kenyan forward will be done today. Sudi Ulanga scored 26 points to break the back of the newly-promoted side.

Friday results
M: KIU 61-70 Ndejje
W: UCU 65-52 Stormers
Today at YMCA
M: Marines v Miracle (7.30pm)
W: Nabisunsa v Gladiators (5 pm)
Division Two
St. Michael v Diamonds (3pm)
Stormers v Kings (1.30pm)
Division Three
Stone v Sharing (11am)
Air Force v Crane (9.30am)

Ndejje University Angels came very close to snatching defeat from the jaws of victory in the MTN-Fuba League at YMCA court on Friday night.
They led by double digits for most of the game before KIU closed the margin to one point (55-56) with five minutes and 53 seconds to play in the fourth.
It helped to have Cyrus Kiviri gain his composure as he dominated the final minutes to lift Ndejje to a 70-61 victory to end a two-game skid.
Kiviri had a poor start but finished the game with a game-high 22 points and 10 assists missing only two of 10 free throws. “Cyrus came up big when the team needed something different. He is a good player,” Ndejje coach Walker Obedi said.

By Usher Komugisha
Sunday results

Men
UGB 48-72 Espoir
KIE 40-59 NUR

OLIVIER Muhizi sunk 8 of his 19 points in the last quarter to guide National University of Rwanda (NUR) to a 59-40 win over Kigali Institute of Education (KIE) last evening at Amahoro Indoor Stadium.

NUR claimed the first quarter (13-10) but a lapse in concentration saw KIE back on top (27-20) at half time.
“It was clear that we had switched off after the first quarter so I told the boys to get their focus back and they did just that,” said NUR Coach, Charles Mushumba.

In the third quarter, NUR opened up a three-point lead (36-33) before stretching it to 19points in the final quarter.
It was a good comeback for the varsity side after last weekend’s loss to APR.
Eric Ngenzi and Cyrille Karimba topped KIE’s scoring charts with 16 and 15 points respectively.

In yesterday’s other game, Espoir returned to winning ways with a 72-48 victory over UGB.

(by Sekhoane Moshabesha)

The annual LBA Winter tournament was played yesterday (18/Jun/20011) at Lehakoe Sports Grounds in Maseru. The tourney was to start at 9am but it only began at 12 noon, due to late arrival of both the players and officials. The main reason for late start was presumably the cold weather.
Six teams took part in the tournament and in the end Bashana Baeso walked away with trophy after a spectacular ending to the game.
Tournament Results
-------------------------------
LP vs LUCT
21 24
------------
SHINES vs KTA ALL STARS
27 21
------------
LUCT vs BASHANA BAESO
24 38
------------
LESELI vs SHINES
24 42
------------
FINALS
SHINES vs BASHANA BAESO
37 39

Manga Basket de Moanda and Somo B Libreville will be heading to the finals after Manga Basket defeated Olympic Mandji 80-67 in the semis and Somo B Libreville did the same with Tongui (69-59). Both final games will be played at the Henry Sylvoz Stadium in Moanda this Saturday and Sunday.

By USHER KOMUGISHA

TODAY: FUBA LEAGUE
DIVISION 1: MEN
U. Canons v Heaters
DIVISION 2
UCU JV v Rocks
K. Riders v Rez Life
DIVISION 3
UPDF v B. Jackets
WOMEN
MUK Cubs v A-1
TLC v Ssaku
Kla U'sity v Shooters

UCU Canons return to the national basketball league action today seeking to reverse a run of three consecutive defeats.

The side that reached the semi-finals of last year's playoffs, face the Heaters at YMCA courts.

The more experienced UCU cannot afford to falter again as they aim to rediscover their winning touch.
UCU are up against a side that is also yet to win a game this season.
The UCU side will unveil giant centre Desmond Owili, signed from Kenya Posta.
Owili, who was cleared by the domestic basketball body FUBA on Thursday, could bring fresh hope to the side struggling so far.

But UCU coach Nick Natuhereza prefers to take a cautious approach.
“Despite the fact that we are playing Heaters, it is a big game for us and we have to secure victory,” Natuhereza said after training.

YAOUNDE (FIBA Africa Championship) - With the 2011 FIBA Africa Championship only two months away, Cameroon's men's national team is about to get its preparations underway.

Head coach Stephen Obah revealed that his team will come together in Cameroon's capital city of Yaounde on 20 June and travel overseas to Serbia and China in the lead-up to the FIBA Africa Championship that will take place in Madagascar from 17 until 28 August.
Cameroon finished fourth in the African continental championship two years ago.
They have been drawn in Group C of the Preliminary Round and will take on Cote d'Ivoire - the runners-up in Libya in 2009 - Egypt and South Africa.
The winner of the FIBA Africa Championship will qualify directly for the 2012 Olympics in London with teams that finish second and third earning berths into the Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

Basketball show held for two days in Dodoma thrilled fans of the Tanzanian capital at the Jamhuri Stadium over the weekend.

The show brought together clubs in the likes of Dodoma Spurs, Dodoma Warriors and college teams from the University of Dodoma (UDOM), College of Business Education (CBE), Institute of Rural Development Planning (IRDP) and St. Johns-Tanzania.
The event was held to popularize the game and create more awareness for the city fans.
The Institute of Rural Development Planning (IRDP) beat Udom to the runners up position as CBE finished third ahead of Dodoma Spurs.
The general secretary of Dodoma Regional Basketball Association Musira Yassin appreciated efforts by the teams to show for the event.
Plans are underway to stage more of such events in the future as well as establishing the regional league.

The future of Uganda’s most successful club - Falcons is in balance following the death of their founder John Ssimbwa. The former Federation of Uganda Basketball Associations (Fuba) president died on Monday following a long battle with illness. He will be laid to rest this afternoon in Kinoni, Masaka.

With the 48-year-old’s chapter on earth closed, many in the basketball fraternity are wondering whether the club will survive without the brain behind its formation. “We don’t know where to start from,” Falcons senior player Sam Obol remarked in his speech during Ssimbwa’s requiem mass at Christ the King Church, Kampala yesterday. Since 1998, Ssimbwa has been funding the club’s activities and led them to a record six national league titles. Their last championship came in 2007 but Ssimbwa was determined to revitalise the club amid stiff competition from Warriors and reigning champions DMark Power.

However, he was lately financially constrained and several star players left the club in search of greener pastures, which is said to have worsened his health situation. By the time of his death, Ssimbwa had stepped down as Falcons president, leaving Dennis Mbidde in charge of the 2000 East and Central Africa Club champions.

Mbidde promised yesterday that Falcons would win this year’s league title but stakeholders admit the gap left by Ssimbwa is too big to fill. “He was a giant. We stood on his shoulders to achieve as a club,” Slyvan Kaboha, who worked with Ssimbwa at Falcons, told mourners yesterday. “He was a philanthropist, very generous with money for his big family that is Falcons.” Ssimbwa is survived by two daughters, the eldest aged eight.

By CAXTON APOLLO

Pre-match favourites Strathmore University maintained their unbeaten record in the women’s basketball Premier League following their 48-23 win over Kenya College of Accountancy-University at Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday.
The victory saw the Sylvia Njeri-coached varsity students – the only unbeaten team in the 12-team championship having won all their nine first leg matches – moved to the top of the table standings with 18 points.
They dislodged Eagle Wings from the summit to second spot on 17 points.
Melissa Akinyi hit a game-high 12 points for Strathmore while Lucy Machuma shot eight for the losers, who lie a poor ninth place with only one win from seven outings.

In other matches, Lakeside narrowly beat Africa Nazarene University 49-48, Parklands Baptist defeated TrailBlazers 39-36 and Flames of the USIU-A scorched Predators 47-37
World Hope pipped Lakeside 79-63 as Mennonites men hit Strathmore University 67-60 while Kenya Airports Authority walloped Kenya Polytechnic 55-28.

By Brown Msyani
The Citizen Correspondent
Dar es Salaam. Visiting AND1 from the United States had little mercy on Dar es Salaam All Stars as they hit them 110-69 in an exciting international friendly match at Leaders Club on Sunday.

The well-attended match started on a quick note with the fast-moving and well-drilled Americans displaying fine shooting, spectacular dunks and classy dribbling to win applause from spectators, mostly the youth.

Dar es Salaam All Stars, led by Gerald Baru and Gilbert Batungi, made a bright start and appeared destined to put AND I at bay. As expected, AND 1 stamped their authority in the game only minutes later and it came as no surprise when they took a deserved 22-14 first quarter lead. On resumption, the visitors started where they had left, commanding the proceedings with swift but accurate passes. They were leading 54-30 at the breather.

Third quarter was even more disappointing for the hosts as they posted only 16 points against the visitors’ 27. The American team wrapped up the game with 28 points while restricting the home side with 17 points in the last quarter of the one-sided game.Gerald Baru was a notable player for the Tanzania. He chalked 15 points and played his heart out against the formidable US team, but his teammates let him down.

The visitors’ Batovu Shag was a real thorn in the flesh for the hosts. He fired 35 points and his teammate Gay Piprel had 20.AND1 have been on the tour of various countries across the world since last year with a view to promoting basketball and motivating the youth to participate in the sport. This initiative is also geared at encouraging active and healthy lifestyles among the youth.

They started their tour of the globe in September, last year and they have so far played basketball matches in Panama, Chile, Mozambique, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Botswana and Tanzania under the sponsorship of Coca-Cola Company. From Tanzania, the team will proceed to Saudi Arabia for a similar mission.

Speaking to The Citizen shortly after Sunday’s match, the National Sports Council chairman, Idd Kipingu, praised Coca-Cola for its efforts to promote the sport in Tanzania and the world at large.

Last year, Coca-Cola sponsored a basketball youth clinic held here and Morogoro under the supervision of Tanzania professional basketball player, Hasheem Thabeet and retired NBA star Steve Smith.

When Sprite brought the legendary AND1 basketball team to Kampala, it was almost like a dream come true for those basketball fans that really had fancied street ball. True some people were more of doubting Thomases because they could not believe such an event could be pulled off in Uganda but that did not even get as close to putting a halt on the excitement people felt.

One case is when the team actually arrived in Uganda and took its opening act to Greenhill academy. The grounds were littered with children just waiting to see what the team had up their sleeves. To these youngsters that could only afford to get a glimpse of these stars on video games and DVDs, it was a thrilling moment, almost too much for them to take in especially for Emmanuel Okiror, who got his chance of a lifetime to actually step on the court with his dream players and try to best them at their own game.

He says; “I still can not believe am standing next to them, I have always been watching them on TV and playing games on the X-Box. I just can’t believe they are here.”

But what was bizarre were the mixed reactions the team received. Aside from the crazed fans that knew what was going on, some students were totally clueless about who was in their presence. And it was actually their first time to get acquainted with the sport but that did not stop them from getting autographs from the superstars and having a good time.

And when the event moved on to YMCA, where an exhibition game was held between the street ball legends and Uganda’s own select side, the turn-up was remarkable.

The event pulled more fans into the gymnasium than the ordinary competitive basketball. The showy and entertainment style of basketball had fans seated at the edges of their seats and gripped with excitement as players like Hot Sauce dazzled fans with his fancy ball-handling skills and Guy Dupuy who managed to wow he crowd with his freestyle dunking techniques as he dunked over three people.

The exhilarating moves they displayed on court left even our own players baffled

Sunday results
M: Ndejje 67-81 Power
W: Amazon 34-61 UCU
Division Two
Rez Life 55-51 St. Michael
Gulu 56-55 Riders
Gulu 54-57 Stormers
Division Three
Bush Court 77-46 Ssaku
Shooters 54-41 Sky Jammers
Emperors 75-67 K’la Univ.

We all know DMark Power are not necessarily dependent on one player to the extent that Joseph Ikong is almost a forgotten man now.

Last year’s regular season top scorer is really struggling and went scoreless in the MTN-Fuba League Division One on Sunday night at YMCA court.It hardly mattered as Power strolled to an 81-67 victory over Ndejje University Angels.
The champions came out all guns blazing in their bid to bury the 93-80 loss to rivals Kyambogo Warriors. They stifled Ndejje 27-14 and 17-4 in the first two quarters respectively to build an assailable 26-point lead at the break. Isaac Afidra continued his good start to the season with 15 points and six rebounds. Richard Balemwa (15), Isaac Luggudde (14) and Emmanuel Enabu (10) were not too far behind.

Cyrus Kiviri had a game-high 19 points but coach Walker Obedi’s side never even got close to a sniff of a major upset.

Dawgz take the stuffing out of Cobras

Nigel Ah-kong is of the old school of basketball here and as a coach he boasts about local big teams having problems playing against his Mont Fleuri Dawgz squad.

Why is that?

“We believe in defence and we play tough defence,” said the former Seychelles playmaker.

On Sunday, Ah-kong’s Dawgz claimed the scalp of Premium Cobras to register their second giant-killing act after also taking the stuffing out of PLS Hawks earlier in the season in the men’s division one championship.
A playmaker with the Cobras team during the time they ruled the courts in the mid-1990s, Ah-kong paced the sidelines as his two sons – skipper and playmaker Reggie and shooting guard Sergio – and the rest of the team took control of the situation on the NSC multisports hall court.
They had a strong start, outscoring the Cobras 21-12 at the end of the first quarter but their lead was trimmed to just one point – 36-35 – at half-time as they lost the second 10-minute spell 15-23.
After getting just four points in the first half, Kevin Romain, 16, got 13 of his team-leading 17 points in the second and was helped in offence by Reggie A-kong, who scored 10 points in the final 20 minutes for a personal tally of 15, including three shots from downtown.
Nigel Cafrine made an 11-point contribution off the bench, while the team’s three big men – Marvin Asba, Jim Créa and Brian Agricole – combined for just nine points, but did a good job on the boards as they won the third quarter 15-21 and lost the fourth 20-21 for a 71-68 win.
“We deserve our win and we had to win to stay in the title hunt.
“Our strategy against the big guns is, because we have a short line-up, stay close and try to make the difference in the final quarter. We did it against Premium Cobras,” said Ah-kong, whose young team have leapfrogged former champions Baya and Premium Cobras into second place in the 10-team league standings with 16 points after seven wins and two losses in nine games played.

Paced by Darren Lesperance with a game-high 21 points, the Cobras have the same win lose-record as the Dawgz but trail the latter on the head-to-head rule. Timmy Adam and Amadou Sylla had 19 and 14 points for the Cobras.

Defeat for Premium Cobras has opened the way for defending champions and leaders PLS Hawks to possibly have a free ride towards nailing down a third championship in a row.

The most successful team in the last 11 years with six league title wins in 2001, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2010, PLS Hawks, coached by Clifford Joubert, brought to eight their number of wins in nine games with a 123-50 beating of last year’s second division winners Drifters on Sunday.

In his second season with the Hawks after joining them from Premium Cobras last year, Nigerian Alao Solomon was on fire with a game-high and season-leading 54 points, while young Arnaud Arissol led second-from-bottom Anse Boileau-based Drifters with 16.

Not all Anse Boileau-based teams finished on the losing side during the weekend. Angels won three of the four quarters in a 20-point – 88-68 – win over RC Dynamics.

David Boniface finished with 23 points and Daniel Dodin added 21 in sixth-placed Angels’ third victory in nine games, bringing their points tally to 12 – the same total as seventh-placed RC Dynamics, who got 24 points from veteran captain Emmanuel Jupiter.

After getting balanced scoring from skipper and playmaker Nigel Sinon (19 points, including two treys), 17 including two threes from J. Ernesta and 14 from swingman Cyril Agrippine, MBU Rockers won all four quarters as they eclipsed Cascade Bullets 87-43.

The Rockers are fifth with 13 points after five wins and three defeats, while the Bullets are on 11 points after three victories and five losses.

Meanwhile, in the men’s division two league, captain Frank Seth (17 points), Sergio Ah-kong (16 including a buzzer beater trey), and Eddie Servina (16) propelled leaders Juniors to a 102-32 win over Cadets.
On Praslin, the Warriors walked over AAP Brothers in another men’s division two encounter.

In the women’s league, Juniors were paced by Veena Panagary with 20 points and Jana Malbrook added 17 as Juniors beat Cadettes 62-20.
Laura Françoise was Cadettes’ only player in double digits with 10 points.

Results

KBC 60-51 ESPOIR
Rusizi 54-96 APR
UNR 77-61 UGB
CSK 82- 48 KIE
UNR 60 -115 APR
CSK 73- 49 ESPOIR
St. Joseph 56-64 KBC

CSK registered back to back league wins over the weekend thanks to top notch displays from Lionel Hakizimana and Geroul Ndugu.
The Rugunga-based side thumped Kigali Institute of Education (KIE) 82-48 on Saturday and then thrashed Espoir 73-49 the following day.
Against KIE, Hakizimana top scored with 17 points while Ndugu scored a game high 24 points against Espoir.

It was a good comeback after last weekend’s 85-75 defeat against defending champions KBC and head coach Javier Kamanzi a.k.a Vava reckons that the winning streak is not about to end.
“We started poorly but we have picked ourselves up and are playing some good basketball at the moment,” he said.
In other games, APR took their winning streak to four games after victories over Rusizi (96-54) and National University of Rwanda (NUR) 115-60.

KBC also won their games against Espoir 60-51 and St. Joseph 64-56.

Written by Dorothy Kyamazima & Felix Eupal
http://www.observer.ug

What do you do when you have two of the best players in the league but don’t have a coach to lead them on the touchline?

Let them be their own coaches. But it didn’t work out so well. Bring in your most trusted prodigal son. That’s exactly what Miracle Eagles did. As it is, Fuba publicist and former player Joe Burua is now calling the shots. He hasthe daunting task of changing the history books of the Rubaga based side. And with just two games in charge, we can comfortably use the tagline, ‘so far so good.’

Although Burua won ugly against KIU Titans - his first game in charge, last Friday’s 87-79 win over UCU Canons was a bigger statement. The sceptics might have to chill with the chorus of whether he can handle this year’s league ‘favourites’.

At the start of the season Miracle exposed too many hiccups with Skipper Steven Omony playing out two roles - as player and coach. But six weeks into the league, Uganda’s ‘Miami Heat,’ as they fancy to be called, are showing that they are not just another team gracing the basketball charts. Their five-game winning streak says it all.

Perhaps the question to ask is: what does Burua bring to the table?

Burua, a former national team player may not have noticeable coaching credentials, but he is quite something when you check the Fuba archives. He holds the Ugandan record for the most points scored in a game - 68 against Kisumu Lakers in the 1992 version of the Abraham Lincoln tournament.

The feat might not be credible enough to grant him the respect of his two stars, Omony and Norman Blick but, at least, he is getting the results and for him, this is all that matters.
“Right now our target is to get to the playoffs. The team may not have the chemistry it needs but they are adaptive. What you throw at us, is what we throw back,” he says.

His other philosophy is to give everyone an equal chance once on court.
“If you prove to me that you deserve to be on court, then you will be there,” he says.

And the philosophy worked, at least against the Canons because everything wasn’t about Omony and Blick. Ronald Bajunga, Collins Mukiza and Edwin Kateregga were involved in the game. As a result, the mood in the camp is gradually changing, the friction is fading and everyone knows they have an equal chance.

With such belief, it’s game on against next opponents Nkumba Marines.

Being dependent on the Big 2 may hinder their progress as
By Dorothy Kyamazima

For years now, the Miracle Eagles have been trying to step out of the shadows and into the limelight with the other big contenders in the league, though little can be said about their achievements.

With no entry into the playoffs the past three years, they could undoubtedly be mistaken for just another team gracing the Fuba charts. However, this season, the Eagles have stepped up to the plate. Five weeks into the season and Miracle Eagles are off to a great start. With six competitors out of the way, they stand clear with five wins and one loss. But does this mean they are ready for playoffs?

Yes a win is a win, but with the way Miracle has forged its way to where it stands now, a lot can be said to be sheer luck. Considering their narrow escape from the clutches of Falcons and the game that went into overtime with KIU Titans, the Eagles have a lot to master when it comes to making a statement, especially against the other big competitors.

For one, the decision on who steps on that court and who doesn’t matters a lot. Many critics have noted with care, how the Eagles are dependent on mainly two players; Stephen Omony and Norman Blick. But with a team that has plenty of talented players, is this a wise decision since it does create some sort of friction with the rest of the players?

With the empty seat on the bench being filled by Joe Burua, their new coach, Miracle stands more of a fighting chance than when it had Stephen Omony manning the bench instead of taking part in the action. However, it remains to be seen whether he is the right man for the job.

Saturday results
Men
Warriors 68-82 Rhino
Women
Stormers 64-33 Nabisunsa
Crane High 16-43 KCC
Division 2
Vegetarian 58-61 Diamonds
Division 3
Crane High 61-53 Jackets

Charging Rhino recorded the biggest upset in the MTN-Fuba League topflight so far by beating Kyambogo Warriors 82-68 on Saturday night at YMCA court.

Following a heavy evening downpour, Rhino emerged the faster and hungrier team, denying last year’s losing finalists a chance to dominate play until the final period.
Mark Opio led all scorers with 20 points and eight assists for the newly-promoted Rhino, who dominated the first three quarters 25-13, 20-16 and 22-9. Rhino have been impressive since their topflight return this season but victories haven’t been forthcoming. They beat Nkumba Marines recently but their win was cancelled due to using an unregistered player.

They also lost a close game to champions DMark Power and faded in the final quarters in losses to Miracle Eagles and KIU Titans.
This was a timely reality check for Warriors as barely a week had passed since they beat Power 93-80.

Eric Malinga aided Warriors’ late fight with 18 points on a night when they shot only 16 of 45 in the field in addition to 7 of 23 from downtown.
“I am really disappointed in the federation because the surface was very bad and no one wanted to hurt themselves. The court was not playable. It was like skating,” Warriors’ Brian Gumisiriza (5) said.
Rhino’s Walter Omony (17) and Fahmy Ssebatindira (12) ensured Warriors, who ruled the final quarter 30-15, lost their unbeaten run. Prior to the game, Warriors were the only unbeaten team in the men’s topflight.

Results
M: Miracle 87-79 UCU
W: Mak Sparks 50-63 KIU
Today at YMCA
M: Ndejje v Power (7.30pm)
W: Amazon v UCU (5.30pm)
Division 2
Rez Life v St. Michael (3.30pm)
Gulu v Riders (9.30am)
Division 3
Bush Court v Ssaku (1.30pm)
Shooters v Jammers(11.30am)
Emperors v K’la Univ. (9.30am)

UCU Canons might soon need to employ desperate measures if they are to earn an MTN-Fuba League play-offs slot.

After Miracle Eagles handed them a third straight defeat at YMCA court on Friday night, coach Nick Natuhereza was very honest about the challenge that lies ahead. “Right now I cannot be thinking about play-offs.

There’s a lot to sort out first,” Natuhereza told Sunday Monitor after his team’s dispiriting 87-79 loss. His solutions stretch beyond the board contest which Miracle bossed 23-15. The manner in which they fold in the fourth quarter causes major concern.

Despite failing to match Stephen Omony in the first three periods when he made most of his 19 points, seven rebounds and eight assists, they were never too far behind. UCU, losing semifinalists from last year, took the first 24-14. Miracle hit back 24-15 in second while the third was tied 17-17. They folded thereafter.

Clutch shooting from guard Colin Mukiza (17) was key to the late Miracle surge to cruise home 32-23 in the fourth. Natuhereza thinks the slow start hurt them here. “I changed to a small running team (for the final period) to counter them because our big men were not being challenged too much,” Joe Burua, the Miracle coach, said. Norman Blick showed peeks of an imminent return to form with 25 points, six rebounds and seven assists.

Sudi Ulanga made 31 points for UCU but his eight turnovers betrayed him, rendering the contribution of Martin Okwako (16) and Geoffrey Omondi (12) insufficient. “Small mistakes and our execution in offense are letting us down,” Natuhereza summed it up.

By Imani Makongoro
The Citizen Correspondent
Dar es Salaam. Basketball Dar es Salaam (BD) is set to elect new leaders today at Ilala Municipal Hall.
BD managing director Mbaga Mwamboma, who will contest presidency, said the anxiously awaited general election would start at 1pm.

The official said BD would first hold the general meeting to discuss various development issues before going for the elections.“Preparations for both the meeting and elections are in place and I call upon all members to attend,” he said.
The new leaders will be in office for the next four years.

Mwamboma is expected to win the post unopposed following incumbent president Simon Msoffe’s decision not to contest.Msofe, who has held the same post since 2003, confirmed yesterday that he was not intending to seek re-election.

The outgoing president is the only longest serving official at the association. He has been in different positions since 1997.

Wandegeya

Friday result
And 1 130 - 74 All Stars
Today at YMCA
M: Warriors v Rhino (7.30pm)
W: Stormers v Nabisunsa (5 pm)
Crane v KCC (1.30pm)
Division Two
Vegetarian v Diamonds (3 pm)
Gulu v Stormers (1.30pm, Gulu)
Division Three – MUBS/MUK
UPDF v Air Force (11.30am)
Planets v Livingstone (10am)
Crane v Jackets (9.30am)

Organisers never imagined anything like what YMCA Court saw on Thursday night.
The biggest ever crowd in Ugandan basketball came to watch American Street Ball group, And 1, do their thing.

Save for the lesson Sprite will take from managing the entrances, it was worth more than the Shs5, 000 fee even if the majority tore down the usual tarpaulins forcing organisers to allow all to watch for free.
Those who couldn’t find room to stand, caught the And 1, on an East African Tour, sweep Uganda’s All-Stars 134-75 on a projector in an exhibition. Going by stage names, the Street Ball superstars - Hot Sauce Spyda, Werm, Fifty, Amazing, Highrizer, Baby Shaq and Airbama – took the inexistent roof off.
At the end, fans flooded the court to take pictures with their new heroes and also secure autographs. It was a sea of people. Ugandan slam-dunk champion Joseph Ikong had kept his name intact. Kenyan Richard Osano Omondi, who played against Hot Sauce the day before at Green Hill Academy in a dunking contest, was the epitome for the locals.

Household names
Household names Stephen Omony, Ronnie Kasewu, Ivan Enabu, Norman Blick and Ben Komakech faced the challenge head on but were also as amazed as everyone else. The And 1 features in the ESPN Street Ball Series, Nike dribbling commercials, video games in addition to movies.

Meanwhile, Kyambogo Warriors, the only MTN-Fuba League Division One team with a perfect record, can make it four in four against Charging Rhino at YMCA today. Warriors, last year’s losing finalists, are coming off a 93-80 victory over champions Power in which Kasewu had 20 points and 16 rebounds

Today‘s Fixtures
Rusizi vs APR 10am (Rusizi)
KBC vs Espoir 10am (Amahoro)
NUR vs UGB 10am (Huye)
CSK vs KIE 12pm (Amahoro)

Sunday
NUR vs APR 10am
Rusizi vs UGB 10am
CSK vs Espoir 10am
St Joseph vs KBC 12pm

KIGALI Basketball Club (KBC) is eager to build on last weekend’s victory when they entertain a youthful Espoir side this morning at Amahoro Indoor Stadium.
The defending champions were no match for CSK last Saturday and are hoping for a similar result today against Prosper Muhigo’s youthful side.
Apart from, Alistade Mugabe and Pascal Karenzi, the rest of the players are relatively new on the scene.
“We are a young side but the future is bright if the guys stay together,” Muhigo said.

In other games, APR play away to Rusizi, National University of Rwanda (NUR) host UGB while KIE and CSK lock horns at Amahoro Indoor Stadium.

Written by Dorothy Kyamazima & Felix Eupal

For the past four years Falcons has been no different from a bus without brakes going a downhill.

It doesn’t look like the brakes are about to get fixed. Like last year, Falcons are facing more hits off the court than on the court. They struggled to beat Heaters (the weakest team in division one), were stunned by a nine-man KIU Titans and claimed to be “unlucky” in Sunday’s 67-68 loss to Miracle.
Unlucky indeed! Luck favours a prepared mind, but Falcons are not prepared. Many critics noted that new Falcons president, Dennis Mbidde, wouldn’t be able to get the team back to its winning ways, considering that he has no prior experience in the basketball circles. But having secured the team a lucrative sponsorship deal with Crown Beverages under their Mountain Dew brand last year and another with Seven Up, which he alleges to be worth Shs 160m this year, the club had no option but to hand him the top post.

The Shs 160m sponsorship was meant to help Falcons get back on their feet after having lost almost all their players the previous season. And it did. They were able to get back Richard Omondi and Peter Elugant who had to be lured away by Miracle. They also lured back Emmanuel Ateng who was on the verge of signing for Ndejje.
Besides that, they added Steven Mwesigye from UCU Canons, Philip Buyonde and Ian Mago from Livingstone. Frank Karoro, Timothy Otim, Isaac Bwire and Chris Ouma completed the club’s list of new recruits. Not satisfied with recruits from within Uganda, Falcons recruited Kenyan and Burundian players like Nelson Nyau, Joel Miika, Mony Jeasle and Francise Mandengo.

Were their opponents scared? No, because Falcons had learnt nothing and forgotten nothing. They still have the same cosmopolitan issues that cost them last season.

Hardly three months into the season, Falcons’ foreign players are already complaining about delayed wage payments. Last year, Falcons lost seven of its foreign players thanks to huge arrears. Now, Falcons is flirting with the same fate.

On top of that they haven’t defined out the roles in the team. The 2003 MVP Sam Obol, who started the season as the team’s new coach after Michael Mureithi’s departure, stunned everyone when he showed up in a jersey and even featured for the team. Now, how will the players he dishes instructions to react when they see him being schooled like he was on Sunday evening.

Selected Ugandan basketball stars will this evening (7pm) challenge American Street Ball group, And 1, in an exhibition game at YMCA court.
The Americans, on an East Africa tour sponsored by Sprite, mesmerised crowds with exceptional skills on their first day in the country yesterday. They played against Green Hill Academy students and Kenyan import Richard Omondi.

Today, Miracle Eagles star Omondi will join Uganda’s leading players Norman Blick, Ben Komakech, Joseph Ikong and Mark Opio to try and outsmart the Americans before the home crowd.
And having watched them yesterday, local basketball federation general secretary Tom Ocamringa, is expecting tantalising action today starting with warm-up sessions.
“If you miss the warm- up, then you might as well tell yourself that you have skipped most of the action,” Ocamringa, who is managing the Americans, said.

In less than 30 minutes of exhibition basketball at Green Hill, the And 1 stars had long queues of mainly pupils waiting to have several items autographed.

They played a short 2-on-2 game and later switched to dunking.
The Street Ball superstars go by nicknames of Hot Sauce Spyda, Werm, Fifty, Amazing, Highrizer, Baby Shaq and Airbama.

Juba Bentiu basketball team of Unity state will represent the soon-to-be independent Republic of South Sudan in the United States of America this year after emerging as the best team in South Sudan.

The Bentui team will be the first to represent South Sudan, as an independent state at an international sporting event.
South Sudan will formally become independent on July 9 following the overwhelming vote in favor of secession from the rest of Sudan in a January referendum. The Bentui team representing South Sudan will be among the other countries whose secondary school students will converge in the United States of America for sports competitions late this year.
To select the team to travel to the US the best teams from each of South Sudan's ten states have engaged in inter-state competitions for the last two weeks.
The minister of Information in Unity State, Gideon Gatpan Thoar, on Saturday told Sudan Tribune that Bentiu's basketball team emerged as the final winner after beating other nine other teams. Bentui beat the team of Aweil from Northern Bahr el Ghazal state in the final in Juba.

Thoar said the team also represented South Sudan last month in the East Africa Secondary School sports competitions in Nairobi, Kenya. The team lost in the semi-final, but was awarded a 'cup for good conduct and professionalism' by the sports federation of East Africa.
Courtesy of: Sudan Tribune

By Usher Komugisha

Today at YMCA
Men: KIU Titans v Rhino
Women: Cubs v Crane High

CHARGING Rhino will seek their first win when they take on the KIU Titans today in a bid to safeguard their stay in the top flight league.
“We are going to give this game our best and look for victory because we need it,” said Rhino’s Mark Opio.
Rhino had defeated the Nkumba Marines in their season opener but the basketball league technical committee handed the two points to Marines because Rhino used an ineligible player, Herbert Akita, formerly of KCC Lions who had not yet been cleared to transfer to Rhino.

Defending men’s division league champions PLS Hawks are now occupying top spot on the table after their crushing 110-62 victory over Baya – sending out a warning to the rest of the league.

At the other end of the table, Razors look like getting closer to playing second division basketball next season after another defeat at the hands of RC Dynamics.

Hawks came back from an eight-point deficit – 40-32 – at half time to crush Baya 78-22 in the second half.
After narrowly losing the first quarter 15-16, Baya stepped up their game in the second quarter to score 25 points compared to their opponents’ 16.
It was in the third quarter that the boys of coach Clifford Joubert took total control of the match, scoring 31 points to Baya’s 11.
PLS Hawks were simply untouchable during the final quarter as they outscored defence-less Baya 47-11 to close the match on a devastating 110-62 score.
Nigerian Alao Solomon was Hawks’ top scorer with 31 points, while Jean-Paul Camille led the scoring for Baya with 22.
Leaders Hawks now have 15 points from seven wins and a loss in eight matches –the same win-lose-points record as runners-up Premium Cobras. The former have the head-to-head advantage after beating Cobras 102-77 earlier in the season.
Baya remain third on 15 points with six wins and three loses in nine matches.

In another match, RC Dynamics came from behind to beat Razors 66-59, adding to the latter’s misery in the top flight.
After losing the first two quarters 13-22 and 15-17, Dynamics regrouped and took control of the third and fourth quarters which they won 23-9 and 15-11.
Captain Emmanuel Jupiter had the hot hands for Dynamics with 20 points, while with 22 points, Alex Baron led the scoring for Razors.
The win keeps Dynamics in fifth spot with 11 points from eight matches (three wins and five losses).
With six points out of seven matches, Razors are still carrying the weight of the table.

Fourth-placed Mont Fleuri Dawgz also registered victory over the weekend and this time their opponents were Anse Boileau-based Angels.
After winning the first quarter 32-16, Angels let down their guard, allowing the Dawgz to get their act together and catch up with them. The latter won the second, third and fourth periods 22-14, 22-11 and 34-18 to win the match 94-75.
Captain Reggie Ah-Kong was Dawgz’s top scorer with 29 points – two more than Angels’ top marksman Daniel Dodin who finished with 27.

Dawgz have now accumulated 14 points after six wins and two defeats in eight matches, while Angels lie eighth. They have 10 points from two wins and six losses in eight matches.

In the only women’s match played during the weekend, RA Sisters met Juniors. The more experienced RA Sisters dominated all four quarters – 11-3, 12-2, 15-6 and 11-7 – to win the match 49-18.
Captain Tessa Mathiot was RA Sisters’ top scorer with 20 points, while Veena Panagary, Kimberly Vidot and Doris Oreddy scored four points apiece for Juniors.
RA Sisters are now in the fourth position on the league table with seven points after getting two wins and three losses, while Juniors are at the foot of the table with four points following defeats in all four matches played.

The annual Winter Tournament is slated to play on the 18th June 2011 at Lehakoe Sports Grounds in Maseru.More details will be available as time goes...Keep checking this site for regurlar updates.

There will also be a Money Tournament on the 2nd July in Mafeteng which will be used as a warm-up for the NBL league.

National league begins on July 30th 2011 and the licence fee per player has increased to M50.00.Team registration is still M250.00.
Deadline for team and licence registration is 08th June. Please note that this year all matters regarding registration will be dealt only at LBA offices not at the courts.Please note that due to limited time, there will now be games played mid week at Lehakoe, evennings for Maseru based teams but 1 match per night. For teams that are based out of Maseru we will still have weekend games at 1 venue.

Sunday results
Falcons 67-68 Miracle
UCU 94-24 Gladiators
Division 2
MBC 54-80 Rez Life
Diamonds 40-44 Kings
Division 3
UPDF 73-62 Planets
Livingstone 56-58 Jackets

Guard Colin Mukiza made a lay-up with four seconds left to give Miracle a comeback 68-67 victory over Falcons in an MT-Fuba League Division One encounter at YMCA on Sunday night.
Mukiza had only five points in the game but his crucial effort must have left new Miracle coach Joe Burua, who could only watch from the stands, thrilled.
Falcons thought they had won the game when Joel Mika made two go-ahead free throws with 15 seconds on the clock. Despite starting the better side to take first quarter 19-11, Miracle faded in the second to trail by four (30-34) heading into the break.
They just couldn’t match Richard Osano Omondi. The forward scored a game-high 21 points and eight rebounds and Richard Elongat (15) was dominating the inside.
Francis Kasekende led Miracle with 16 points while Francis Tumusiime (12) announced his return to form. That lessened the burden on Stephen Omony (7-10) and Norman Blick (8).

NAIROBI (Premier League) - Western Delight pulled off a major shock in the women's premier league when they stunned reigning champions Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) 34-32 in a premier league clash at Police Canteen in Kakamega.

The low scoring encounter saw KPA take a 6-5 and 9-8 lead in the first two quarters. KPA hung on 14-13 in the third before things took a dramatic twist in the last two with Delight, urged on by their delirious home fans, went wild in the fourth, which they took 13-3.
Ghyslaine Uwimana broke a 32-32 deadlock with 14 seconds.
Nancy Atieno was a constant menace to the dockers, while on the scoreboard Mirram Awuor and Hellen Oketch led with 13 and 11 respectively.
Strathmnore University maintained their unbeaten run in the women premier league when they pipped Gladiators 45-40 in a closely fought duel.
The students raced out of the blocks building a double digit margin before Gladiators battled back to 21-24 at the break.
I a nip and tuck third and fourth quarters, Gladiators took a lead only for the fitter students to take over the proceedings with a few minutes left breaking off a 39-39 tie.
Faith Owich collected game high 26 points, while for Gladiators Getrude Sagala and Pam Cinda scored 10 apiece.

Sprite Storms battled to a 47-39 win over Co-operative Bank of Kenya in another good game. The bankers, who have changed guard took a 23-17 advantage at the breather.
Faustina Mandu and Sally Bosire nailed 10 each but the driving factor was Angela Luchiva. Irene Makori scored Co-op's 15,including all the teams 12 in the last quarter.

In the men's league, KPA had 25 points from Dan Okwirri and 17 from Sameul Odera and 14 from Tony Okello as they nipped home boys Masinde Muliro University of Agriculture sand Technology (MMUST) 69-66.

Ben Oluoch scored 19 and Bryan Shivachi hit 14 to guide Nairobi Aviation College (NC) to a convincing 63-46 win over Kenya polytechnic University who had 10 from Bryan Malinga.

Trailblazers won 58-42 over Africa Nazaree University (ANU). On form Shem Otieno poured in 24 points for the winners with Andrew Kihumba hitting 14 for ANU.

FIBA