First round records
Pemba Warriors 10-1
Betway Power 9-2
City Oilers 8-3
UCU Canons 8-3
KIU Titans 8-3
The National Basketball League can be divided into three stages including the two-round regular season as well as the playoffs. At the end of the first phase, Betway Power can be described among the best performers having finished with a second league best 9-2 record as they seek a record equaling sixth league title.
According to coach Arnold “Mchuda” Lando, the statistic only bettered by Pemba Warriors’ 10-1 record, represents a satisfactory return thus far. “Overall I am happy with the performance,” the coach stated before quickly plunging into the setbacks the team suffered in the first round. “We lost two games that we could have avoided. Paul (Mwaka) lost a mother and that disrupted our preparations as we could not train prior to the game. Then we lost the other game to UPDF because of indiscipline. We have to recollect and ensure that we do not lose again in such circumstances. Going forward we have a good team. Everyone is fighting for time and that is a good thing.
“The new players have brought competition and the mentality is that the players need the team and the team doesn’t need them. It is a different scenario from last season when we had just the 10 players,” Mchuda explained. The last statement could prove particularly key to Power’s hopes of silverware this season.
As Mchuda cited in the 85-75 loss to UPDF, Power had built themselves an unwanted reputation of losing Sunday games as a result of their off court lifestyle. That performance and subsequent result however seems an exception rather than rule for Power these days. Since Betway took over, there appears a genuine effort to maintain focus on the game; at least from the outside looking in. The feature could come in handy particularly in the post-season against champions City Oilers who seem to have perfected it on their way to four consecutive league titles.
On court, Power Michael Makiadi has been one of the standout performers not only in the team but the league overall as statistics suggest with the forward is averaging 18 points and 12 rebounds. Burundian veteran Willy Nijimbere is also expected to be pivotal in a team that already boasts the experience of Joseph Ikong and Isaac Afidra. Power supporters will only hope for more.