12 April 2015
UGANDA : Power won’t honour City Oilers replay
By Ismail Dhakaba Kigongo
Posted Sunday, April 12 2015 at 01:00
Posted Sunday, April 12 2015 at 01:00
In Summary
Basketball. After a blackout at Lugogo on Friday,
which stopped play with 1:59 on the clock, Fuba decided the City
Oilers-Power game is replayed at the same venue today. However, Power
want a postponement
Maureen Amoding set the stage for what should be an exciting
Airtel National Basketball League season for her new club, A1 Challenge.
Amoding’s fighting performance was not enough as the women’s league champions KCCA Leopards inevitably prevailed 49-46 at a near-full Lugogo MTN Arena on Friday. But, it said a lot about the mindset of everyone, perhaps.
Amoding’s fighting performance was not enough as the women’s league champions KCCA Leopards inevitably prevailed 49-46 at a near-full Lugogo MTN Arena on Friday. But, it said a lot about the mindset of everyone, perhaps.
The former Most Valuable Player (MVP), signed from
UCU Lady Canons on Thursday, missed what would have been a game tying
three-pointer with 3.3 seconds left. She has an audacious task of
upsetting the KCCA-UCU duopoly. At least, the guard seemed to relish it,
so are Tiger Head Power.
Faced with an 11 successive defeat to two-time
defending champions City Oilers, Power played with heart, desire and
hardly any finesse, just like Amoding earlier.
Just when the vociferous Power fans started to
chant loudly, scenting a rare victory, there was a blackout and the game
was eventually called off. Coach Robert Mugabe’s team led 63-58 with
under two minutes, 1.59 to be exact, to play.
Even if Power had not found satisfying answers to Kami Kabange, limiting him was evident.
Power’s off-season purchases Sudi Ulanga (UCU Canons) and Michael Makiadi (KIU Titans) struggled though point guard Fahmy Ssebatindira (Charging Rhino) showed glimpses of what he could add. Returnee Ken Balyejusa, too, got a run-out.
Even if Power had not found satisfying answers to Kami Kabange, limiting him was evident.
Power’s off-season purchases Sudi Ulanga (UCU Canons) and Michael Makiadi (KIU Titans) struggled though point guard Fahmy Ssebatindira (Charging Rhino) showed glimpses of what he could add. Returnee Ken Balyejusa, too, got a run-out.
Also, Paul ‘McGyver’ Odong and Francis Odom had
got going. Now, both sides must do it all over again today at midday at
the same venue. Power have, however, vowed not to show up for the game
today.
“We won’t play on Sunday midday because it not part of our plans and schedule,” Power chairman Patrick Obalim said yesterday.
“Players and fans have to spend time with their
families. We advise Fuba to reschedule the game for a Tuesday or
Wednesday because fans won’t show up at midday. The game is for fans and
players so this gang-ho approach must stop.”
He added: “The blackout was out of Fuba’s control
just like rain at YMCA but why not have a standby generator? We are not
giving away a walkover as we wait for reschedule.”