Kawempe Muslim Ladies Football Club dismantled Olila High School 5-0 in the first game of matchday four played on Friday at the Valley Ground in the FUFA Women’s Super League.

This was their first win for the Ayub Khalifa-coached side this season which made a perfect reaction to last weekend’s 2-0 loss to Lady Doves FC.

Right from the onset, Kawempe showed intent to win and when the goals started coming, Olila had no control over the proceedings.

Agnes Nabukenya opened the floodgates in the 11th minute with her ferocious strike from a distance slipping through the hands of goalkeeper Esther Akite.

Five minutes later, Nabukenya set up Hadija Nandago who sent a low drive from close range to double Kawempe’s advantage.

In the 34th minute, Rebecca Nakato stretched the lead for the home side thanks to a neat pass from Nabukenya.

The Four-time league winners added two more goals after recess with Shakirah Nyinagahirwa scoring the fourth before Nakato completed her brace.

The two teams have just a day to rest before they return to action. Kawempe Muslim will visit Makerere University while Olila High School faces free-falling Asubo Gafford Ladies.

Saturday will witness three games. Table leaders Kampala Queens take on second-placed Uganda Martyrs in Kabojja, She Corporate face UCU Lady Cardinals while Last Doves visit Rines SS.

City Oilers and JKL Lady Dolphins could be crowned National Basketball League champions on Friday at the MTN Arena in Lugogo.

Both sides lead their respective best-of-seven series 3-1 and a win for either will see them crown winners of the league.

Oilers have won the last seven championships while JKL have won the Ladies crown for the last two completed seasons (2018 and 2019).

Oilers beat Nam Blazers 77-74 in a closely contested Game 4 and now the Blazers have no room for error if they are to extend the series.

Most of all they need to have the composure when it matters and make the right decisions with the every possession. They were banking on quality across the whole roster to spring up a surprise but most importantly need players as Amisi Saidi and Ariel Okall to step up to the scoring challenge.

For Oilers who have been in such situations before and pride in the experience of their core will still remain favourites to take their record extending eighth title.

In the women’s finals, JKL also have a chnace

Finals Game 5s

• W: JKL Lady Dolphins vs. UCU Lady Canons – 7:00 pm
• M: Nam Blazers vs. City Oilers – 9:00pm

Friday, 30th September

• UCU Lady Canons 52-60 JKL Lady Dolphins (Series: 0-2)
• City Oilers 60-71 Nam Blazers (Series: 1-1)

Nam Blazers beat City Oilers 71-60 in Game 2 National Basketball League Finals to level the series at one all.

It will be all to play for when the two sides meet again for Game 3 on Sunday at the MTN Arena as each side will be looking to take the lead.

The result was big and deserved for Nam Blazers who needed a response after throwing away game one on Wednesday.

On the night, it was about Blazers stars coming to the party and the rest just fell in place. Amisi Saidi led the way with 24 points and 10 rebounds while David Deng added 19 points and Ariel Okall Koranga picked 13 rebounds.

Blazers trailed 17-14 after the first quarter and had to show resilience to get back into the game and when they went in front in the third quarter, they never looked back, particularly in the last quarter which they won 20-11.

Blazers out-rebounded Oilers 50-46, minimized their turnovers to 17, and shot 28-of-69 from the field.

Francis Azolibe notched a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds as did Mer Maker who scored 11 points and picked 10 rebounds.

In the women’s final, JKL Lady Dolphins opened up a 2-0 series lead with a 60-52 victory and are now two wins away from sealing a three-peat.

Rita Imanishimwe came alive with 17 points against her former side while Rose Akon’s game-high 22 points were futile.

Wednesday, 28th September

• W: JKL Lady Dolphins 60-50 UCU Lady Canons
• M: Nam Blazers 53-60 City Oilers

City Oilers and JKL Lady Dolphins drew first blood in their respective game one of the Tusker Lite National Basketball League Finals at the MTN Arena in Lugogo.

It’s a strong start for the Oilers who are chasing an unprecedented eighth title in as many attempts.

Nam Blazers who are playing in the finals for the first time led by 10 points inside the third quarter and were oozing with confidence backed by the bigger percentage of the crowd.

However, Oilers pulled off a comeback in the last quarter to steal the opening game of the series.

The opening quarter was back-and-forth but Blazers took it 13-12 and were 29-26 up at halftime. They however got out of their character when it mattered most, and the Oilers took advantage.

Namuwongo led by five going into the last quarter before a collapse which saw the side shoot 3-of-14 in that quarter.

Oilers showed character down the stretch, winning it despite playing poorly on the night as they missed 12 of their 13 shots from three.

Tonny Drilleba (13), Ben Komakech (10), and Moses Maker (12) scored in double figures, with the latter scoring 8 of his tally in the second half.

For Blazers, Chris Omanye and Amisi Saidi had 14 and 12 points respectively.

In the Women’s game, Brenda Ekone scored 21 points while Flavia Oketcho added 15 as JKL Lady Dolphins beat UCU despite Rose Akon’s 19 points and 12 rebounds double-double.

City Oilers will start the road to the 2023 Basketball Africa League (BAL) in front of their own fans.

The Oilers were handed the rights to host Group C of the First Round of the qualifiers due October 25-30.

Burundi’s Urunani BBC, home to former Oilers big man Landry Ndikuman, Hawassa City BBC (Ethiopia), Army Basket Club (Tanzania), and Matero Magic (Zambia) will be making the trip to Kampala.

Oilers missed out on the playoffs the first time after defeats to Patriots (Rwanda) and Maputo (Mozambique) in the 2019 qualifiers and withdrew from the second edition competition at the Elite 16, citing COVID-19 in South Africa.

Oilers earned the right to compete as champions of Uganda when the last National Basketball League finals were last held in 2019.

This year’s Road to BAL will start in four African cities including Kampala where Group C will be hosted.

Group A will be hosted in Niamey (Niger), Group B in Yaounde (Cameroon) and Group D in Antananarivo (Madagascar).

Teams that finish in the first two places in Groups A, B, C, and D will qualify for the Elite 16 Round, where they will join the six teams that qualified for the 2022 BAL season through the Road to BAL qualifier.

The remaining teams to complete the Elite 16 Round line-up will be announced by FIBA Africa at a later date.

The top six-placed teams from the Elite 16 will then qualify for the 2023 BAL Season where they will join the champions from Angola, Egypt, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, and Tunisia.

NBL 3rd Place Playoffs

• KIU Rangers 61-71 KCCA Leopards
• UCU Canons 69-68 KIU Titans

UCU Canons (Men) and KCCA Leopards (Women) settled for third-place finishes in this year’s National Basketball League.

The Leopards beat KIU Rangers 71-61 in the 3rd place playoff match held on Sunday at YMCA in Wandegeya.

Rebecca Aanyu led the way for the Leopards with 20 points while Angella Namirimu had 16 points for Ali Mavita’s charges. Becky Longom (14 rebounds) and Sylvia Nakazibwe (7 assists) were also outstanding for KCCA.

Perus Nyamwenge and Ninette Uwineza scored 19 and 12 points respectively for KIU Rangers who were.

In the men’s tie, 2015 & 2019 finalists UCU Canons overcame KIU Titans 69-68 and settled for bronze.

Meanwhile, the National Basketball League Finals series start this Wednesday at Lugogo.

• W: JKL Lady Dolphins Vs UCU Lady Canons
• M: Nam Blazers Vs City Oilers

Nam Blazers and UCU Lady Canons advanced to the finals of the National Basketball League playoffs in their respective divisions.

Nam Blazers beat KIU Titans 75-61 in Game 4 on Sunday night at YMCA in Wandegeya to win the best-of-five series 3-1.

Ariel Okall led Blazers with 20 points and 12 rebounds, Daniel Monoja added 13 points and 11 rebounds while David Deng contributed 11 points as the side dominated on the inside.

Fidel Okoth scored 11 points and picked 10 points for KIU while Joseph Chuma scored 10 points and picked 15 rebounds. Gaius Mahamba contributed 10 points.

Blazers await the winner between City Oilers and UCU Canons. Oilers lead the series 2-1.

In the women’s division, UCU Lady Canons completed the sweep of KIU Rangers to qualify for the finals. Lady Canons beat Rangers 65-40 behind Rose Akon’s 21points and 28 rebounds. Agatha Kamwada added 12 points.

Ines Kanyamunza and Ninette Uwineza scored 11 and 10 points respectively for KIU.

Sunday Results

• UCU Lady Canons 65-40 KIU Rangers (Lady Canons win series 3-0)
• UCU Canons 60-50 City Oilers (Oilers lead series 2-1)
• KIU Titans 61-75 Nam Blazers (Blazers win series 3-1)

City Oilers and UCU Lady Canons edged close to making the National Basketball League Playoff finals in their respective divisions.

The two sides won their respective Games 2s of the best-of-five semifinals on Wednesday night at YMCA in Wandegeya.

Oilers beat UCU Canons 72-61 thanks to Francis Azolibe’s game-high 21 points, 11 of which came in the third quarter.

The seven-time champions had a nine-point lead (18-9) at the end of the first quarter which they extended to 17 points midway through the second quarter and the writing was on the wall.

Tony Drileba and Ivan Muhwezi scored 13 and 10 points respectively to complement the Nigerian center.

For UCU Canons, it was Fayed Bbaale who scored 20 points to lead the losing effort with Peter Sifuma and Ibanda Lwabaga adding 15 and 10 points respectively.

In the Women’s Division, Lady Canons neat KIU Rangers 85-76 with Maimuna Nabbosa leading the scoring with 23 points. Rose Akon added 17 points and a game-high 23 rebounds while Agatha Kamwada (11), Bridget Aber (11), and Hajara Najjuko also scored in double digits.

Ines Kanyamunza had team-high 19 points for Rangers while Peruth Naymwenge, Florence Nanyonga, and Clarisse Ntumba contributed 18 points each.

Wednesday Results

• KIU Rangers 76-85 UCU Lady Canons (Lady Canons lead series 2-0)
• City Oilers 72-61 UCU Canons (Oilers lead series 2-0)

UCU Lady Canons took game one of the best-of-five playoff semifinals against KIU Rangers.

The Lady Canons beat Rangers 62-43 on Sunday afternoon at YMCA in Wandegeya.

The Canons were 26-15 up at halftime and that was a statement of intent as they were the better side throughout on the way to clinching a deserved 19-point win.

KIU did not hit the ground running and looked like a shadow of themselves from the side that swept Miracle Ravens in the quarterfinals.

Only Ninette Uwineza (10 points) scored in double figures. Ines Kanyamunza scored 7 points while Patricia Cate Nakiru and Fildauce Namuleme had 5 each.

Other Rangers reliable players Sharon Kirabo and Perus Nyamwenge never came to the party finishing with 4 and 2 points respectively.

On the other end of the court, KIU failed to slow down Rose Akon who scored 16 points and pulled down 27 rebounds.

Guard Maimuna Nabbosa (15 points) came in handy in what was one of her best games of the season. Shakira Nanvubya (12 points) was the other Lady Canon who scored in double digits.

Game 2 of the series will be played on Wednesday.

In the other Women’s semifinal, JKL Lady Dolphins took control of their series after winning Game 2 against KCCA Leopards, 65-52.

The Leopards who went toe-to-toe with the Lady Dolphins in the first half went cold in the third quarter and never recovered.

Brenda Ekone (20 points) and Hope Akello (11 points & 12 rebounds) scored in double figures for the victors while Taudenciah Oluoch had 14 rebounds to go with 8 points.

KCCA skipper Angella Namirimu (14 points) was the only player to score in double digits for Leopards.

Victory in Friday’s game three will see JKL march into their third straight final. They are back-to-back champions.

All Sunday Results

• UCU Lady Canons 62-43 KIU Rangers (Lady Canons lead series 1-0)
• KCCA Leopards 52-65 JKL Lady Dolphins (Lady Dolphins lead series 2-0)
• UCU Canons 64-72 City Oilers (Oilers lead series 1-0)
• KIU Titans 75-64 Nam Blazers (Series tied 1-1)

BUL Football Club held Egyptian side Future to a goalless draw in the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round at St Mary’s Stadium in Kitende.

The Ugandan representatives who won Uganda Cup to qualify for the competition had a shaky start on their Continental debut.

But they improved in the second half and created good chances before the spoils were shared at the final whistle.

Ibrahim Kazindula had the best chance of the game but fired wide of the goal frame when he was unmarked, Ibrahim Mugulusi twice came close while Future goalkeeper made some wonderful saves to keep the tie in balance.

Future was in cruise control in the opening exchanges but failed to benefit from early BUL blemishes to get an away goal.

And the tie remains for the taking ahead of the return leg next Saturday in Cairo.

BUL FC Starting XI – Saidi Keni, Emmanuel Obua, Walter Ochora, Ibrahim Kazindula, Ibrahim Mugulusi, Douglas Muganga, Richard Ayiko, Pascal Ngoobi, Karim Ndugwa, Hillary Onek, Peter Oketch

Substitutes – Emma Kalyowa, Frank Kalanda, Jeromy Kirya, Tom Ikara, Reagan Kalyowa, Martin Aprem, Ibrahim Nsimbe, Benon Tahomera, Anthony Mayanja