FUBA Working To Avert Referees’ Crisis


As is the norm, there are games lined up in the National Basketball League on Wednesday and Friday this week. But following last weekend’s scenario where a number of referees and umpires opted to officiate a schools’ tournament rather than league games, there is a genuine worry about games taking place this week.
This includes Friday’s game between Betway Power and JKL but more importantly Wednesday’s fixtures involving JKL Lady Dolphins and Nkumba Lady Marines as well as Nkumba and UPDF. A number of match officials are demanding arrears stretching to two seasons, a situation that has not improved this term with domestic basketball governing body Fuba, struggling to attract sponsors. “We shall have two meetings this week and hope to have the situation resolved,” stated Fuba Vice President Grace Kwizera in an interview on Monday evening.

On Sunday, the game between Lioness and Javon Ladies, was abandoned as no referees had arrived by 9.30am, the for tip-off time. Raymond Muhumuza and Ram Nyakana then officiated the subsequent games. The pair despite being qualified referees are not eligible to officiate the men’s topflight league. Muhumuza is coach of fellow league side Sharing Youth while Ram Nyakaana is the physio for champions City Oilers. The pair was later bailed out by Falcons’ Moses Olobo who helped ref Nkumba Marines’ 63-72 win over Our Saviour, the day’s final game at YMCA.

This was after his team’s 61-47 loss to the UCU Canons that left them with a dismal 1-5 record compared to 5-3 for the Canons. The circumstances overshadowed KCCA Leopards’ 66-61 double-overtime victory over champions UCU Lady Canons. Joy Chemutai led all scorers with 19 points while Martha Soigi added 11 and picked 23 rebounds as Judith Nansobya led with 13 points for the Lady Canons. This Friday, Betway Power will play JKL Dolphins, in a much anticipated encounter with Power trying to avoid second loss of the season to a high flying JKL Dolphins.
Weekend National Basketball League results
Women
Lioness – Javon Ladies
JKL Dolphins 65-32 KIU Rangers
UCU Lady Canons 61-66 KCCA Leopards
Men
UCU Canons 61-47 Startimes Falcons
UPDF Tomahawks 64-61 JKL Dolphins
Nkumba Marines 63-72 Our Saviour
Fixtures
Wednesday fixtures
Women: JKL Lady Dolphins vs Nkumba Lady Marines
Men: Nkumba Marines vs UPDF Tomahawks
Friday
Men: Betway Power vs JKL
Women: Javon Ladies vs KCCA Leopards

Published: 07/12/2017