Insecure Canons up against relegation-bound Riders
Sep 01, 2009
UGANDA Christian University UCU Canons coach Robert Mugabe has hinted for the first time that his side is in real danger of missing the MTN-FUBA basketball League Playoffs.
By Charles Mutebi
UGANDA Christian University UCU Canons coach Robert Mugabe has hinted for the first time that his side is in real danger of missing the MTN-FUBA basketball League Playoffs.
UCU face the Knight Riders at YMCA today on the back of two straight defeats, which have all but ended their hopes of qualifying for this year’s playoffs. The Canons have to win all their remaining seven fixtures, a huge task for a team that has already lost seven of 11 games.
Mugabe grudgingly acknowledged that the postseason may be out of reach although he insisted Canons still had a chance.
He said: “We are still training. We have not given up hope, we just have to win all our games.â€
The coach-player was, however, honest enough to admit that, “even if we don’t make the playoffs, we will keep on training and try again next year.â€
The Mukono-based side has made the postseason for the last two years, dropping out at the first hurdle on both occasions.
Mugabe said the Canons, in their third season in the top division, are focusing on their match against relegation-threatened Riders.
Meanwhile, Emmanuel Enabu, James Okello, Isaac Kamya and Robert Karamagi departed for the Basketball Without Boarders camp September 1-7 in South Africa. The four were selected by NBA star Juwan Howard during the nationwide Sprite Slam challenge last month.
They were originally five but Sudanese born Geoffrey Soro was dropped because only nationals qualify.
The four join 100 players selected from all over Africa for the camp being conducted by Howard and other NBA players and coaches.
In a related development, NBA giants Detroit Pistons Jason Maxell and former WNBA All-Star Nykesha Sales are due in Uganda for workshops with local coaches and players September 7-9, on visit arranged by the US Embassy in Uganda.
UGANDA Christian University UCU Canons coach Robert Mugabe has hinted for the first time that his side is in real danger of missing the MTN-FUBA basketball League Playoffs.
UCU face the Knight Riders at YMCA today on the back of two straight defeats, which have all but ended their hopes of qualifying for this year’s playoffs. The Canons have to win all their remaining seven fixtures, a huge task for a team that has already lost seven of 11 games.
Mugabe grudgingly acknowledged that the postseason may be out of reach although he insisted Canons still had a chance.
He said: “We are still training. We have not given up hope, we just have to win all our games.â€
The coach-player was, however, honest enough to admit that, “even if we don’t make the playoffs, we will keep on training and try again next year.â€
The Mukono-based side has made the postseason for the last two years, dropping out at the first hurdle on both occasions.
Mugabe said the Canons, in their third season in the top division, are focusing on their match against relegation-threatened Riders.
Meanwhile, Emmanuel Enabu, James Okello, Isaac Kamya and Robert Karamagi departed for the Basketball Without Boarders camp September 1-7 in South Africa. The four were selected by NBA star Juwan Howard during the nationwide Sprite Slam challenge last month.
They were originally five but Sudanese born Geoffrey Soro was dropped because only nationals qualify.
The four join 100 players selected from all over Africa for the camp being conducted by Howard and other NBA players and coaches.
In a related development, NBA giants Detroit Pistons Jason Maxell and former WNBA All-Star Nykesha Sales are due in Uganda for workshops with local coaches and players September 7-9, on visit arranged by the US Embassy in Uganda.