Divisions 1& 2 of FUBA basketball leagues tip off this Sunday at Lugogo indoor stadium

By Ritah Tugumisirize

Uganda’s lower basketball divisions will start this Sunday at the Lugogo indoor stadium. This was confirmed by the Federation of Uganda Football Associations, FUBA, Friday afternoon at the Uganda Olympic committee offices in Kampala.

Divisions one and two of Uganda’s basketball leagues will start with four games as former top division side Charging Rhinos take on Old Timers, Watoto will open with Miracle Eaglets, relegated UPDF takes on Rez Life as Emperors face off with Crane high in the last game of the day.

Hakeem Ssebagala, the chairperson of the lower league committee, says this time they will include high school students, and he expects a more competitive season.

“We have many teams participating including students in teams like crane high school, Nabisunsa among others; we want to develop talents in the game.

With all the support we have, and the leadership at the top level, 2019 season will surely be a superb year,” said Hakeem Ssebagala.

League coordinator Brian Rugyendo explained why they chose the lugogo indoor stadium to host the games.

“We’ve been missing basketball since the season ended last year, so it’s a good opportunity for us to kick start the season and get everybody into basketball action and excitement. Everyone is welcome at MTN arena in Lugogo, it’s a very nice and exciting place to be so everybody should come and enjoy with us,” Rugyendo explained.

For the players, the focus is to help their teams earn promotion to the higher division.

Watoto’s captain Sarah Nalumansi says their target is to be promoted to the national basketball league next season, while UPDF skipper Moses Muhumuza hopes his side will make a quick return into the top tier from which they were relegated last season.

“We have had enough training I hope we win on Sunday as we target National basketball league promotion,” Nalumansi asserted.

“We were relegated, something that was not good for our team but we have been training so hard in this season break, running, learning more tactics to help us go back to the NBL next season, it’s every player’s wish to join the top tier,” asserted the UPDF captain, Moses Muhumuza.

Two teams from division one will be promoted to the national basketball league.