Manjasi provides thrills
May 19, 2005
THE just concluded national schools’ basketball championship at Manjasi High provided the much-anticipated excitement.
By Gloria Kyomugisha
THE just concluded national schools’ basketball championship at Manjasi High provided the much-anticipated excitement.
Fine sporting talent was showcased, records tumbled and new champions emerged.
However, the games did not miss their share of trouble. Raising a storm was the quarter-final match-up between the hosts and Kibuli SS — where Manjasi players protested a referee’s call that gave Kibuli a slim lead at the end of the game thus inciting the home crowd. This caused ripples as the players contemplated walking off the court and withdrawing from the championship.
Also thorny was the issue of undue advantage, granted to schools with foreign experienced players, over those with upcoming local players as a result of student sports’ scholarships. Governing body, National Schools Basketball Association (NASBA) concluded that the next championship will only allow three foreign players on the court at a given time.
The good outweighed the bad at the event. Top schools went all out fighting for national crowns with Kibuli SS and Nabisunsa Girls’ coming out top — dethroning Ndejje SS and St. Peter’s Naalya — respectively.
Even without sponsors, there was an improvement in the management of the event. Feeding was sublime, with chicken, beef and rice on the menu and schools did not have to travel with mattresses.
The event concluded on an even bigger note with three players from Wairaka, Kisubi and Manjasi being drafted to the Basketball Without Borders Academy slated for September in South Africa.
Ends
THE just concluded national schools’ basketball championship at Manjasi High provided the much-anticipated excitement.
Fine sporting talent was showcased, records tumbled and new champions emerged.
However, the games did not miss their share of trouble. Raising a storm was the quarter-final match-up between the hosts and Kibuli SS — where Manjasi players protested a referee’s call that gave Kibuli a slim lead at the end of the game thus inciting the home crowd. This caused ripples as the players contemplated walking off the court and withdrawing from the championship.
Also thorny was the issue of undue advantage, granted to schools with foreign experienced players, over those with upcoming local players as a result of student sports’ scholarships. Governing body, National Schools Basketball Association (NASBA) concluded that the next championship will only allow three foreign players on the court at a given time.
The good outweighed the bad at the event. Top schools went all out fighting for national crowns with Kibuli SS and Nabisunsa Girls’ coming out top — dethroning Ndejje SS and St. Peter’s Naalya — respectively.
Even without sponsors, there was an improvement in the management of the event. Feeding was sublime, with chicken, beef and rice on the menu and schools did not have to travel with mattresses.
The event concluded on an even bigger note with three players from Wairaka, Kisubi and Manjasi being drafted to the Basketball Without Borders Academy slated for September in South Africa.
Ends