by Sande Bashaija
Kampala
Champions DMark Power have had a smooth ride in the MTN-Fuba League first round, winning all their nine encounters.
The three-time champions remain odds-on favourites to retain the trophy. But with the league taking a break, Power have now turned their focus on challenging regional giants in the Zone 5 Championship getting underway July 27 in Kampala.
“It’s kind of difficult because there is no league action to keep us busy at the moment. But we are certainly getting ready,” DMark Power technical director Peter Mubanda said yesterday.
Despite being the most in-form local side, Power have little experience on the international front. Yet, the week-long tournament is bringing together the best teams from the region. Expected to give Power a tough challenge will be Sudanese champions Bilpam Warriors, Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) and Rwandan league title holders Marine. A place at the Africa Club Championships later this year is at stake for the Zone 5 winners and Mubanda has refused to count Power as outsiders.
“Our chances in the tournament are as good as any other team’s,” Mubanda stated. “We shall be playing on familiar surfaces, so everything is in our favour.” Power are representing Uganda alongside Falcons, Zone 5 champions nine years ago, and Warriors.
The women’s teams will be led by KCC Leopards, A-1 Challenge and Kampala International University. And Power’s mission, according to Mubanda, is ‘to be Uganda’s best representatives’.