Falcons fall to Power-ful surge, but end in style

By Douglas Mazune Falcons carried home a lion's share but their bitter rivals, Sadolin Power, were happy to at least end Falcons' two years dominance of the league. Falcons became the first Ugandan team to win the East, Central and Southern Africa tournament, retained the prestigious Abe Linc VIII international, Kamanyire and Rajan tournaments, but Power won the league to foil what would have been a complete sweep. In the Abe Linc, the country's biggest tournament manager John Ssimbwa's Falcons defeated last year's finalists Mombasa combined to go down into the event's history books as the first team to stage a successful defence of the tourney. In the East and Central event, Falcons triumphed over strong teams from Seychelles, Kenya and Rwanda, let alone local opposition, whereas the Rajan and Kamanyire victories were largely local. Much as Falcons have four trophies to their credit, they are still haunted by their fall to Power in three straight games in the league play-off final. Steven Omwony two-year reign as MVP was subsequently brought to an end as Wilbrod Oketcho, the man behind Power's success, assumed that mantle. "We made a mistake to lose the league title to Power but we know why we lost to them and that is why we have since beaten them (Power) three times," Falcons coach Ronnie Kaboha said. He added: "We have won four Cups, I think we deserve to be the team of the year." The league was more competitive this year where mediocre teams like Warriors, Blue Jackets and Jinja-based Sky Jammers managed upsets against giants Falcons, Power and Charging Rhino. Blue Jackets caused some fright in the Falcons ranks when they took the first game of the semi-final playoff, but Falcons recovered to win the series 2-1. Lady Bucks also triumphed over A-1 Challenge to win the ladies title for the third time in a row. Unlike last year, FUBA, the local governing body, widely regarded as incompetent pulled off a good one by running both rounds at YMCA Wandegeya, Nsambya Sharing, Kyambogo and Jinja SS. "We have involved more people in the organisation of the game and there are more teams in league. Despite the little resources the league is more competitive and bigger than ever more," said FUBA organising secretary Robert Ndamagye. FUBA has failed to get a league sponsor will need to learn a lot from Rhino Athletics Club, the organisers of the Abe Linc. Ends