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Friday Results

Namuwongo Blazers extended their winning streak in the National Basketball League to nine games on Friday night after holding off UCU Canons 64-61 at Lugogo Indoor Stadium.

Blazers (16-4) had to overcome UCU’s zone defense in order to split the regular season series and ascend to third in the table.

Canons (14-5) who trailed by a point (46-47) at the start of the fourth quarter quickly surged to a 7-point lead and suffocated Blazers with zone at the other end.

However, Blazers quickly scrapped back before the Player of the Game Paul Odong hit a pair of triples with the second leveling the game at 56.

Amis Saidi scored a rather quite game high 17 points and 14 rebounds to lead Nam Blazers. David Deng and Odong contributed 15 points apiece.

Peter Sifuma scored 14 points and picked 11 rebounds off the bench to lead UCU, Fadhil  Chuma added 12 and 11 rebounds while Jerry Kayanga had 11 points.

MTN Uganda has supported the Netball She Cranes with a cash boost of 50 Million Uganda Shillings to facilitate preparations for the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

The event was held today in Maya where the national team has been training to get in the best shape for the coveted event.

Announcing the funding, MTN Uganda said, “We have supported the National Netball team – Uganda Netball with Ushs. 50 million to facilitate the team’s executions at the #CommonwealthGames2022.

“Uganda is currently the 6th best country in Netball internationally as per the March 2022 Netball World Rankings.”

MTN’s contribution to Uganda Sport continues after bankrolling the Uganda Athletics Federation and supporting runners like Joshua Cheptegei early last year.

Since 2004, MTN, in partnership with the UAF has been a part of the development of Uganda’s athletics right from the grassroots.

MTN Uganda is a fervent supporter of Uganda sports and has over the years supported various disciplines including football, basketball, and golf as well, both at national and club levels.

MTN Uganda has handed over 50 million shillings to the Uganda Netball Federation ahead of the Commonwealth Games that start next week in Birmingham, England.

The sponsorship is in line with MTN Uganda’s commitment to promoting sports in Uganda as a major driver for shared value hinged on the company’s Good Together notion.

The cheque was received by Sarah Babirye Kityo, the president of the Uganda Netball Federation, at a ceremony held on Thursday, 21st July at the Allen VR Stanley Secondary School Gymnasium.

Dorcas Batwala Muhwezi, the MTN Uganda General Manager – Customer Experience, hailed the She Cranes for its tremendous efforts towards shining a light on the country by virtue of their incredible performance.

“The National Netball Team has always done us proud through their hard work that has given us as a country, immense global recognition, and pride. As MTN, we are incredibly honored to support the Netball fraternity as they embark on their participation in the commonwealth games next week,” Muhwezi said.

Of the sponsorship package, 20 million will go towards supporting the federation’s administration and the 30 million will go directly to players and coaching staff travelling for the games in Birmingham. This includes performance bonuses of 3 million each to the top scorer and the best player of the She Cranes at the games.

The She Cranes rank 6th internationally and second to only South Africa on the continent, according to the World Netball rankings as of March 2022.

She Cranes was pitted in Group B alongside hosts England, New Zealand, Malawi, Northern Ireland, and Trinidad & Tobago. They will open the campaign with New Zealand on Saturday, 30th July followed by matches against Trinidad & Tobago and England on 31st July and 2nd August respectively.

Northern Ireland on 3rd August and Malawi on 4th August will complete the team’s group fixtures. The She Cranes need to finish among the top two for a chance to play for the medals.

MTN Activities in the sport

In April this year, MTN supported Suncity United, a community-based netball team that is leveraging Netball to empower underprivileged girls hailing from slum areas in and around Kampala, with Shs30m to facilitate the team’s travel to Atlanta, to compete in the U.S Open Junior Netball Championships. 

Since it started its operations in Uganda over 20 years ago, MTN’s proactive role in sports has positioned the brand as the biggest supporter of local sport through its sponsorships, partnerships, and active engagements with the various sports disciplines including football and athletics among others. 

MTN Uganda has partnered with Tooro Kingdom to organize an inter-county cycling competition dubbed “Obugaali bwa Masaza ga Tooro”.

This competition is part of activities leading up to the Empango celebrations, marking the 27th coronation anniversary of the King of Tooro, Omukama Rukirabasaija Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV.

The preliminary races will take place in each of the nine counties to select riders who will represent their counties in the grand finale set for Saturday, 3rd September 2022.

The competition will start on 29th July in Kyaka county and each participant will pay 2000/= for registration, medical check, and consent form to be filled before participating.

Walter Tavares and Williams Tavares combined for 43 points as Cape Verde defeated Uganda’s Silverbacks 87-78 in the FIBA World Cup qualifiers on Saturday.

Williams scored game-high 22 points while Walter 21 points before fouling out of the game.

The first half was as close as they have come in the past meetings with Cape Verde up by a point (44-43).

The Islanders only pulled away a built a 21-point lead into the fourth quarter as Silverbacks went through a scoring drought.

When Emmanuel Trovoada went to his bench, Silverbacks chipped away and came to within 2 points (78-81) to create a tense finish.

Joel Almeida (14 points) made a tough lay-up and later drew a foul to ice the game with a pair of free throws.

Cape Verde skipper Fidel Mendonca contributed 11 points while Ivan Almeida picked game-high 11 rebounds.

Ishmail Wainright scored a quiet 21 points, Arthur Kaluma added 17 points to go with 5 boards while John Deng Geu and Robinson Opong contributed 12 and 11 points respectively.

Despite the defeat, Uganda advances to the second round of the qualifiers with Mali disqualified for forfeiting two games. Uganda returns to action on Sunday afternoon against Nigeria.

The Uganda National Basketball team – Silverbacks have claimed a much needed win by forfeiture after opponents Mali failed to show up in the 2022 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers at the BK Arena in Kigali.

Mali players are reportedly protesting against the Fédération Malienne de Basketball’s failure to pay them.

Kawowo Sports reports that “some players refused to leave the hotel while those that came to the Arena refused to kit up.”

Uganda warmed up for nearly half an hour as they waited for Mali to show up. The West Africans were accorded 15 minutes before tip off but they couldn’t be seen anywhere.

Uganda will now play their first game on the court tomorrow against Cape Verde who beat Nigeria earlier today.

UPDF Tomahawks beat JKL Dolphins 68-47 in the National baketball League at Lugogo to move to third place on the table.

The Tomahawks were unstopable in the second half en route to picking their 11th win of the campaign.

The first half ended all square at 26-26 but UPDF thereafter picked up in the second half, sharing and moving th ball very well.

JKL who were without Brian Namake and Jude Ochen was not efficient on offense and turned the ball 32 times.

Only Mabor Makol (14) scored in double figures for Dolphins, with the big man adding 14 rebounds to complete a double-double.

Okello David and Arthur Wanyoto scored 17 and 13 points respectively while Ferdinand Odama had 9 points and as many rebounds for the Tomahawks.

It’s the third straight win for UPDF who recently beat Our Saviour and Tropical Royals.

It’s the ninth loss for JKL who beat Power on Sunday.

Mary Nuba Cholhok has joined Uganda’s senior netball team (She Cranes) preparing for Commonwealth Games.

The Goal Shooter who plays for Loughborough Lightning in England trained with the team for the first time on Wednesday.

“I am really excited to be joining the Girls and we want to keep on challenging ourselves as we go out there.

“We want to have fun, this will be my first time playing at Commonwealth Games and I am looking forward to seeing what awaits me and enjoy the game,” Nuba said.

Nuba scored 633 goals in 15 games in the Vitality Superleague for Loughborough Lightning who were later beaten by Manchester Thunder in the Finals. Her tally was the fifth-best of the season.

“Everyone is looking firm on the ground, we want to keep challenging ourselves because it will not be easy out there, we need to ask ourselves more and more.

“We don’t want to promise a lot, it’s seven players against seven, it has to be about teamwork. We just want to have fun,” she commented on expectations for Commonwealth Games.

Uganda’s National Men’s Basketball Team, Silverbacks, will be looking to seal a place in the final round of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers when the second leg of the first round takes center stage.

The qualifiers tip-off on Friday at the Bank of Kigali Arena in Kigali, Rwanda with the Silverbacks taking on Mali in their first of the three games.

The team played three friendlies in Cairo and lost all to Rwanda (84-45) Egypt (89-58) and Jordan (78-66) but head coach George Galanopoulos says they made the team better.

“These games have been great for our preparation and showing us where we need to improve. The players have been working hard and more committed than ever and getting better, we are looking forward to getting to full strength.

“We are going to continue to watch videos, practicing, and preparing for our first game.”

Uganda is third in a four-team group and has to stay within the top three places to progress to the Second Round of Qualifiers.

Uganda’s Fixture

Point guard Chris Omanye has returned to Nam Blazers for the second round of the National Basketball League.

The Congolese logged 28:14 minutes as Nam Blazers beat Ndejje Angels 84-79 on Sunday at the MTN Arena Lugogo. He finished the game with 7 points and 5 assists.

It’s the second stintt for Omanye who joined Nam Blazers last season from Warriors.

The former KIU Titans went on to average 9.7 points and led the team (Nam Blazers) in assists before the season was suspended due to COVID-19.

He joins the Blazers again midway through this season and his return is a big boost for coach Stephen Nyeko whose side also signed last season’s Kenyan League MVP Kenneth Wachira.

Amisi Saidi finished with a double of 17 points and 12 rebounds for the Blazers as they picked their 9th win of the season in 13 games.

Samuel Ajak had 30 points but his effort proved to be in vain for Ndejje University Angels who suffered their 10th loss of the season and are seated second from the bottom of the 13-team log.

Sunday, 26th June