Sande Bashaija
Wandegeya
Power v Warriors (finals)
Game 1:Power 75-71 Warriors
Game 2:Warriors 104-84 Power
Game 3:Warriors 84-85 Power
Game 4:Warriors 81-75 Power
Game 5:Warriors 87-86 Power
Past winners (since 2002)
2008 – Power
2007 – Falcons
2006 – Marines
2005 – Marines
2004 – Falcons
2003 – Falcons
2002 – Falcons
Women
2008 – Lady Canons
2007 – KCC Leopards
2006 – Lady Bucks
2005 – A-1 Challenge
2004 – Lady Bucks
2003 – Mak Sparks
2002 – Lady Bucks
In pre-season, Warriors boss Ambrose Tashobya desperately tried to sign Stephen Omony.
Arguably Uganda’s best player at the moment, Omony had run out contract with Seychelles side PSL Hawks and found himself amid a tag of war between Warriors and Falcons. Having played for Falcons before crossing to Seychelles, Omony snubbed Warriors and decided to return ‘home’, leaving a bitter taste in Tashobya’s mouth.
Tashobya, who had already made part payment for the star’s signature, was even among the witnesses as Omony penned a Shs72m contract with Falcons.
Unlike the rest, Tashobya’s presence at the signing ceremony was to try and lure Omony to change his mind and join Warriors. He never succeeded.
After Omony completed his move back to Falcons and Power brought on board the Blick brothers for a combined Shs30m, there was a feeling that Warriors would once again compete for third place. But failure to land Omony led Tashobya to Kenya and Tanzania from where he recruited Martin Okwako and Ramathan Abdullahi respectively.
And as the season came to a conclusion last Wednesday, Tashobya had the last laugh. His team won its first MTN-Fuba League championship since its formation in 1994. The signings he made did a tremendous job. And its unlikely Tashobya still laments his failure to sign Omony.
Okwako in particular stood out in the seven-game final series against Power and including him on the play-offs MVP’s shortlist would be no crime. Steven Okias and Ronnie Kasewu are the other sure contenders for the play-offs MVP award although Power’s Isaac Afidra should have no opponent for the regular season gong.
“I feel so happy to win the title after all this hard work and pain,” Tashobya, who also heads the basketball body, Fuba, said after Warriors completed a 4-1 rout of Power. Like he testifies, Warriors have endured lots of pain to achieve the ultimate prize. Whereas beating Power in the series looked an easy job, getting to the final was as bruising as they come.
Okias.jpg
Warriors’ forward Steven Okias (R) chases after the ball with Power skipper Norman Blick. Warriors won their first championship last week. PHOTO: EDDIE CHICCO
Despite taking a 2-0 in the best-of-five semifinal series, Warriors were pushed to the decisive Game Five by their usual tormentors Falcons.
Bitter exit
After Falcons evened the series, many in the fraternity predicted another bitter exit for the Warriors. But Tashobya’s charges were never going to allow a repeat of the 2007 scenario that saw Falcons come from 2-0 down to snatch the championship from their hands.
Yet, the same side also eliminated them at the semi-final stage last year. “We have worked so hard and played every game like it’s the last,” Warriors coach Gad Eteu stressed.
Eteu was Thomas ‘Smarts’ Olumbo’s assistant at Falcons when they wrestled the title from Warriors in 2007 and winning a championship as a full time coach can’t be more fulfilling. “To me, this is a very exciting moment,” Eteu said. “I think Warriors have taken over Uganda’s basketball.”
In a way, Eteu is right. This team is capable of ruling Uganda’s basketball for years if success doesn’t get to their heads. “This victory has inspired us to work even harder next year,” Tanzanian Abdullahi noted. “We like winning and that’s what we want to continue doing.” Abdullahi and Okwako have one year left on their contracts. They are looking forward to making a mark when the team competes in the Africa Clubs Championships due later this week in Rwanda. “If we do well in Kigali, confidence in the team will increase,” Abdullahi noted. “All we need to do is keep focused.”
What is more intriguing is the fact that this team seems to have ‘conquered’ many a supporters’ heart in a very short time. The many fans that shouted Power’s name loudly last year, could hardly be traced at YMCA Wandegeya in the recently-concluded final series. ‘I am a warrior, I am a warrior............. fighting for freedom’ this reggae tune became an anthem throughout the series. The majority in the arena screamed and sang along every time it was played, you would think all Power fans had crossed to the opponents’ camp.
Zone 5 performance
Fuba officials confessed that many people have fallen in love with basketball while the ones that had deserted the game returned, thanks to Warriors’ performance in the Africa Zone 5 Championship. Both Power and Falcons competed in the Zone 5 tournament held in Kampala three months ago but couldn’t go past the group stages. Warriors reached the final. Even though they lost to Kenya’s Cooperative Bank, their brave performance earned them many admirers. People that watched Warriors playing in the Zone 5 for the first time have since turned into ardent fans and helped uplift the team to the league title.
It’s also no secret that Warriors sold more merchandise in the play-offs more than Power despite the latter coming up with the innovation.
What next for Power? “We shall come back strongly and reclaim the title next year,” Power’s reliable star Afidra stated. After winning last year’s championship, Afidra promised that they would defend it. The promise never came to pass.
With the addition of the Blick brothers and Michael Kojjo, Power’s squad looked stronger than last term’s. The hefty salaries paid to the Blicks, though, and the clash of egos among the star players seem to have contributed to the downfall of the team.
The love for the bottle that stretches to the court side has once again ruined a promising season for arguably the country’s most talented team.
It’s now Warriors’ time to shine but there is still a long journey for them if they are to march Uganda’s most successful club - Falcons.
It will require lots of discipline from Warriors since Falcons are always as hungry as ever despite having six titles in their cabinet.