14 April 2014
UGANDA : Kami U-turn makes Oilers ‘even better’
By ISMAIL DHAKABA KIGONGO
Posted Thursday, April 10 2014 at 01:00
Posted Thursday, April 10 2014 at 01:00
In Summary
They are surely a better team with him around as
they seek to compete well at the Zone V Club Championships later this
year.
KAMPALA- How will City Oilers
cope without Kami Kabange? That has been one of the most familiar
questions amongst basketball folklore for the past three months.
This followed a confirmation from the club in
February that the finals’ Most Valuable Player (MVP) was to leave for
Qatar. Now, that deal has since fallen through.Why? “The documentation has failed us,” Oilers’ team manager
Silver Rugambwa said yesterday. “But when another chance comes, he will
be allowed to leave.”Though Congolese-born, the centre plays for Rwanda and it seems this is where all the confusion about his eligibility for Qatari-visa stems from.
“It just didn’t work out. I will stay and contribute to the team again,” Kabange, who averaged 18.4 points and 10.5 rebounds in the seven-game 4-3 final series victory over Falcons, said.
His coach Mandy Juruni, who declared two months
ago, that the team was moving on with Samuel Kalwanyi, Andrew Opio and
James Okello to star on the inside, has opened his arms again.
After that memorable December triumph which came
in Oilers’ debut season in the Airtel National Basketball League, he has
continued to train with his team.
In addition, arguably the most dominant inside
player in the Zone V region, has played in trial games against the
national team, TeamUG, and featured in the UCU Open for Oilers.
They are surely a better team with him around as
they seek to compete well at the Zone V Club Championships later this
year in Kenya.
“We have depth this year. We have good guards who can hurt you offensively. We are even better” Juruni added.
The club had moved to split the scoring burden borne by Kabange last season by signing guard Ben Komakech (Tiger Head Power) and guard/forward Geoff Omondi (Falcons).
Rugambwa had even gone ahead to make a declaration that; “The scoring will be shared between Jimmy Enabu, Komakech, Omondi, Kalwanyi, Opio and everyone else.”
The club had moved to split the scoring burden borne by Kabange last season by signing guard Ben Komakech (Tiger Head Power) and guard/forward Geoff Omondi (Falcons).
Rugambwa had even gone ahead to make a declaration that; “The scoring will be shared between Jimmy Enabu, Komakech, Omondi, Kalwanyi, Opio and everyone else.”
With Kabange still here, the numbers could even become obscene.