Basketball
Warriors unfazed
Warriors centre Sam Gombya was no threat as UCU Canons Desmond Owili (with ball) flew past him to dunk four times during last Friday’s league game. PHOTO BY ISMAIL KEZAALA.
In Summary
Warriors’ uncharacteristically disorganised start to the season has happened without big men Henry Malinga (injury) and Michael Kariuki, who is still in Kenya.
KAMPALA
There isn’t anything fundamentally wrong with champions Warriors and there is no need to press the panic button, at least according to Ivan Enabu.
“We are not worried at all,” Enabu said after losing 63-58 to UCU Canons at the Lugogo MTN Arena last Friday. Judgement on his assertion can be made today as Warriors face strugglers Nkumba Marines at YMCA Court. “Truth be told, we were not ready to play,” Enabu lamented. He can answer those questions against a side expected to spend the year fighting relegation.
Nkumba lost their season opener to Power, 79-64, despite putting up a show for three periods.
Brian Sivachi scored 29 points and 15 rebounds but there wasn’t much support on the offense for coach Timothy Odeke. John Chipulanghelo, with 11, was the only other in double figures. Odeke is honest about how far they can go.
New team
“We are building a totally new team,” he noted. He has only eight players to rotate and the roster lacks genuine size. Warriors’ uncharacteristically disorganised start to the season has happened without big men Henry Malinga (injury) and Michael Kariuki (away in Kenya).
Their return is close. Likewise, centre Sam Gombya featured for the first time this season in the defeat after skipping the opening day 94-27 victory over Miracle Eagles.
Skipper Ronnie Kasewu is coming off a 13 points and six-rebound performance, having to play for long periods to cover for the thin team. In the other game, playoff hopefuls KIU Titans are widely expected to win for the first time against Proline.
ikigongo@ug.nationmedia.com
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