Focus on defence for City Oilers’ turnaround

CAIRO, EGYPT.

The awakening is done. One by one, players stroll into Mandy Juruni’s room at the Pyramisa Hotel.

Inside, City Oilers’ coach Juruni is seated in the long sofa. Mohammed Santur, the team manager, sits not far from him.
They are watching the video of the opening 77-69 loss to Algeria’s G.S.P on their debut at the Fiba Africa Club Champions Cup here in Cairo. It’s time to account.

After the ‘grilling’ is done at the hotel, players head to gymnasium for two intense one-hour practice sessions on Thursday and Friday.
During practice, defence is emphasised before Oilers return to the King Abdallah Faisal Arena, Al Ahly Club gymnasium to face Cameron’s BEAC today.

“We want to improve our defence,” Santur later says. “It starts with energy on defence and belief that you can limit your man.”

By now, Juruni has done his forensic audit on how to alter the tide for the three-time Ugandan league champions who also won the regional Fiba Africa Zone V Club Championship this year to get here.
Among the points of bother here is the depth of their team.

In that loss to G.S.P, Oilers bench accounted for 20 minutes worth three points while the Algerians had 60. The starting five - Jimmy Enabu, Ben Komakech, Kami Kabange, Landry Ndikumana and Stanley Ociti - understandably played at least 31 minutes each.

“We will start to see how to improve the contribution of the bench,” Juruni says.

During practice, these five ran mostly offense while the role players did the defending. Oilers also tried to restrict the number of tough jump shots Kabange has to take.

Among those waiting to have a bigger impact on the game will be shooting guard Jonah Otim and forward Andrew Opio who played a combined 17 minutes in the opener.

A James Okello appearance made the team eight players deep but the contributions is what Juruni needs to concentrate on. The remedies are multifaceted as efficiency levels hurt the chance of a desired start on Wednesday.

Kabange was 4 of 18 for while Komakech missed five of six shots from downtown. It’s the resilience of Stanley Ociti, 24 points and 12 rebounds, that stands out.

However, Juruni remains pleased with how Oilers competed bar the second quarter when they were outscored 24-5 after an 18-point tie in the fidst period.

“At this level, we cannot afford lulls. We need to put together four consistently good quarters,” he reasons.

The 27-11 third quarter surge is everything that video should show the players that it’s that kind of display serve them best here.

FIBA AFRICA CLUB CHAMPIONS CUP
GROUP B FIXTURES
TODAY - 4.45PM
City Oilers vs BEAC (Cameroon)
TOMORROW - 2.30PM
City Oilers vs RCD Libolo (Angola)