National Basketball League fixtures - Friday 29 September
UCU Lady Canons vs KCCA Leopards
Betway Power Vs City Oilers
Betway Power coach Arnold “Mchuda” Lando has welcomed today’s game against perennial rivals City Oilers just 48 hours ahead of the start of the Fiba Africa Zone V Club Champions Cup in Kampala.
There had been doubts about whether the game would be played with the risk of injuries to both teams who will represent the country at the tournament. The game some argue will also expose the Ugandan teams to potential opponents already in the country ahead of the competition.
Mchuda however opted for a different view ahead of the game that pits them against the four-time defending champions but who they defeated 60-56 in the first round.
“We have not played in two weeks so we want to get into competition mode,” Power coach Arnold “Mchuda” Lando said of the fixture.
Power last played in the league two weeks ago defeating UPDF 68-52 and improve to a 13-4 record ont back of “big man” Michael Kojo’s 20 points
“Some people have raised the injury issue and visiting teams but you just have to focus on the positive aspects,” Mchuda added.
Only Brian Oduor is ruled out with injury ahead of today’s game and the Zone V tournament while Ivan Lumanyika will come in handy for the latter competition as he is ineligible for the league having played for KIU titans.
City Oilers meanwhile come into the game on the back of an 88-50 win over Nkumba Marines.
They have regulated minutes of their players who returned with the Silverbacks last month with guards Daniel Jjuuko and Geoff Omondi who stayed behind playing a team high 21 minutes against bottom side Nkumba.
Reserve centre Joseph Chuma consequently led with 16 points for the Oilers who will go into today’s game with a 10-3 record.
The women’s game promises to be similarly intriguing with unbeaten KCCA Leopards seeking to extend their 13-0 unbeaten start against champions UCU Lady Canons whose only blemish in a 12-1 record is against today’s opponents.