29 October 2012
UGANDA : Fuba turn to Kenyans as referees strike
FUBA league
SATURDAY RESULTS
KIU 60-52 Eagles
(KIU lead series 1-0)
W: Stormers 43-31 KIU
(Stormers lead series 1-0)
Div. 2: UCU 55-41 Gulu
(UCU JV win series 2-0)
City Oil 62-61 Diamonds
Bush Court 87-84 Sharing
(Series tied 1-1)
Rhino 91-50 Shooters
(Rhino led 1-0)
Div. 3: Ssaku 76-68 LC Hovers
Emperors 39-62 B.Jackets
Livingstone 69-61 UMU Flames
Phenoms 60-56 Silver Force
(Ssaku, Blue Jackets, Livingstone and Phenoms led series 1-0)
KAMPALA.
KIU 60-52 Eagles
(KIU lead series 1-0)
W: Stormers 43-31 KIU
(Stormers lead series 1-0)
Div. 2: UCU 55-41 Gulu
(UCU JV win series 2-0)
City Oil 62-61 Diamonds
Bush Court 87-84 Sharing
(Series tied 1-1)
Rhino 91-50 Shooters
(Rhino led 1-0)
Div. 3: Ssaku 76-68 LC Hovers
Emperors 39-62 B.Jackets
Livingstone 69-61 UMU Flames
Phenoms 60-56 Silver Force
(Ssaku, Blue Jackets, Livingstone and Phenoms led series 1-0)
KAMPALA.
Two Kenyan umpires were ferried in to fill the void as a section of local officials continued to strike over unpaid arrears.
The strike that threatened the start of the Fuba League playoffs on Friday stretched into the weekend as the body postponed payment of Shs7m.
Peter Kirabo and Baker Kyambadde, the two most qualified umpires here, are among the most notables to have laid down their tools. Ambrose Tashobya, the Fuba president, had earlier promised to pay the bills on Saturday. That agreed upon deadline wasn’t met.
“We have paid up to Shs70m so that shows willingness to pay,” Tashobya said. “I think some are striking to fail the league which is unfortunate.”
A solution is expected today though the striking umpires seem to have toned down on their demands.
A solution is expected today though the striking umpires seem to have toned down on their demands.
“After receiving communication from Fuba, we decided to officiate again but they refused to assign us games for Sunday,” one of the striking umpires said yesterday.
In the meantime, Fuba footed bills to get Andrew Kihumba and Brian Okutoi from across the border.
In the meantime, Fuba footed bills to get Andrew Kihumba and Brian Okutoi from across the border.
The Kenyans took charge as KIU Titans defeated Miracle Eagles 60-52 to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three quarterfinals at the Lugogo MTN Arena on Saturday. Richard Osano, Moses Olobo and Nelson Njau scored 10 points apiece as the third seeded KIU made a routine start despite being out-rebounded 28-45.
Ivan Rumanyika bagged a futile game-high 14 points and 10 rebounds for Eagles. The start to the postseason was even made more eventful as Fuba repealed a controversial rule on eligibility of players.
Rule 2.2.1 which demands that every player features in five regular season games to make the playoffs has been suspended until a review is done next year. “The federation noticed that the rule does not sufficiently cater for players wishing to return after injury, maternity leave, study leave, transitional employment or any other genuine reasons,” Fuba’s Donnan Byabazeire said.
ikigongo@ug.nationmedia.com
# posted by afrbk : 14:30
