National basketball league finally starts April 17th

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT  |  The National Basketball League will finally start this weekend April 17th after a year without action. Ten teams have registered to participate in the League.

This year’s edition of National Basketball League will be played using a different format. Hudson Segamwenge, the Vice President of the Federation of Uganda Basketball Associations (FUBA) said only one round of the League will be played during regular season with no double fixtures.

Several teams are confident and anticipate good performances after several months of  preparation.    

Brian Wathum, head coach of  KIU Titans says his team has been working hard after signing new players. He says having new players will help them to compete for the championship this season.

The coach says the many friendly games they have played have helped his KIU Titans team gain lots of fitness ahead of the start of the League.

Farouk Zinda, head of Operation at the Namuwongo Blazers says that the team is preparing for their first game that will be against defending champions City Oilers. The 

Namuwongo Blazers will be making their debut in the top tie League after earning promotion in 2019. The club has since signed several players including Chris Omanye, Francis Azolibe, Daniel Juuko and David Deng among others. 

Zinda added that his club has played one friendly game that they lost to KIU Titans. He  however says the game was a good eye opener as it showed them the the areas where they must improve.

Although FUBA had decided that the games will be played behind closed doors,  Segamwenge says the decision was revisited and a maximum of 200 fans will be allowed during every game.

“We agreed that whenever the game is played we are going to allow 200 people including the players and it will be on first come basis,” says Segamwenge.

In the opening fixture on Saturday KIU Titans battle Betway Power, while City Oilers take on Namuwongo Blazers in the second game. All the games will be played at the Kampala International University (Kansanga).

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