Basketball in Africa

Today at Makerere
M: Heaters v Rhino (5pm)
W: Gladiators v Crane (3pm)
Division 3
Shooters v TLC (1pm)
Air Force v K’la Univ. (11am)
UPDF v Ssaku (9am)

Youth Heaters are the only team yet to win a game in the MTN-Fuba League men’s topflight division. The newcomers could find a way out today when they face Charging Rhino at Makerere University main ground and not the usual YMCA court.

Despite the latter being former champions, they also just got back into the topflight this season after four years in the lower echelon. This way, Heaters, the team Rhino swept in last year’s Division Two play-offs best-of-three final series 2-0, still see them as equals. “Our target in the situation we are in currently is to win one game before the end of the first round and give it our best in the second,” Heaters patron Denis Osikol said.

Coach Brian Wathum should implement the message which might entirely depend on denying Rhino’s lethal shooting guard Mark Opio the ball and space. Exuberance alone has not been enough for Rhino. The 69-63 loss to Ndejje University Angels must have been another easy lesson to take if they are to add to the sole victory this season.