Immensely gifted Enabu starts to walk the talk

Basketball. Warriors’ star player Enabu needs to maintain the same consistency during Game Three tomorrrow.

There is no hiding that this has been a poor season for Ivan Enabu, arguably the most cheered player in Ugandan basketball. The guard’s push for a maiden league title has for long needed him to ride on the back of his Warriors’ teammates.

They may not be playing for him as they seek to avoid a third successive finals defeat. Enabu is finally doing his part. He has switched on in the playoffs.

In the 78-66 victory on Wednesday that got Warriors level at 1-1 in the best-of-seven final series with Falcons, Enabu scored 15 points, eight steals, seven rebounds and five assists.

He also had 10 points, seven rebounds and five assists in the 75-62 Game One loss. These may not be gigantic figures but to Enabu, it must feel like a heavy load has been lifted off his shoulders.
His frail temperament has often been Enabu’s biggest let-down. “I think he is realising he needs to step up,” coach Mandy Juruni, working with him for second season, said.
Fellow players love to call him an actor. During last year’s series which DMark Power won 4-3, Enabu finished with 92 points and 33 assists – the highest tally.

It wasn’t enough for him to join his brothers – Emmanuel, Jimmy and Mark plus sister Evelyn, who have all won league championships.
“Regardless of what happens, I will retire from the game at the end of this year,” Enabu, now 28, told this newspaper earlier this season. The game would really miss his skills.
ikigongo@ug.nationmedia.com