By Charles Mutebi
and Usher Komugisha
MTN-FUBA League
Friday, YMCA
Men's Division 1
Power v Warriors
Ndejje v Marines
Women's
UCU v KCC
BASKETBALL league sponsors MTN yesterday pledged to invest sh300m into the development of the game.
Telecommunications company MTN will invest most of the sh300m in the development of basketball at the grassroots. They will also print new kit for all the 39 clubs that play league basketball.
The game's governing body FUBA are also in negotiations with MTN to do "a facelift" on the YMCA court, which until the opening of Lugogo Indoor Stadium in a couple of months time will practically be the sole venue for all league matches.
MTN has also increased the airtime award that goes to the man-of-the-match of every league game from sh20,000 to sh40,000.
MTN Segment manager Jasper Mbowa made the announcements at a FUBA conference for the 2010 league season.
The investment represents a significant increment in MTN's investment in local basketball although the amount of liquid cash going directly to FUBA for running its leagues has only gone up by sh5m, up from sh70m last season.
FUBA has revealed attempts to convince their sponsors to increase on the sh75m cash package. The body's organising secretary Tom Ocamringa said, "We requested for some change in the contract so it (sh75m) could change»»".
The season opens Friday with a repeat of the 2009 men's finals between the Kyambogo Warriors and D'Mark Power the pick of the games.
The women's category will have the reigning league champions, KCC Leopards clash against the UCU Lady Canons who won the FUBA Sprite Super Challenge two weeks ago.
The men's third division has three newcomers in Ssaku S.S, Giant Stormers and Makindye Stormers, while the second division will have eight teams as no clubs were relegated from the top flight.