25 October 2012
UGANDA : Play-offs return to Lugogo
The Fuba Basketball League playoffs will return to the MTN-Arena Lugogo for the first time in two years following a green light from National Council of Sports (NCS).
Former women’s champions A1 Challenge and post-season debutantes Gladiators will get the first feel of the stadium this Friday before men’s defending champions DMark Power and UCU Canons clash in the quarterfinals.
The facility has been at the centre of controversy since its renovation funded by the telecom company, MTN, three years ago. An undulating floor after the initial rehabilitation led to another closure during the 2010 finals. It was re-opened earlier this year.
Other sports disciplines have had access to the facility but when basketball attempted to use it, scheduling the Falcons-UCU match-up there on August 8, they were blocked. “NCS has given us a go-ahead though the new hoops are still at the port in Mombasa so we shall still use the old ones,” Ali Balunywa, the Fuba publicist, said.
UCU coach Nicholas Natuhereza doesn’t think Power’s having played in Lugogo during the Zone V gives the latter an advantage. The floor is significantly different from 2010 when UCU last played there during the 3-2 semifinal loss to Warriors.
ikigongo@ug.nationmedia.com
# posted by afrbk : 15:06
