UGANDA : FUBA cleares Omony, set for Eagles debut

By Charles Mutebi

FUBA League
Today at YMCA
Men’s Division 1
Miracle v KCC (5.30pm)
UCU v Ndejje (7.30pm)

STEPHEN Omony will finally make his debut for the Miracle Eagles after being cleared by local basketball governing body, FUBA.

He will be in the Eagles squad that will face the KCC Lions today at YMCA. Expect fireworks. Or, at the very least, a Miracle victory.

That is what Miracle will be expecting when one of the greatest players in Uganda’s history takes to the court in their blue colours.

The Eagles had hoped to field Omony against D’Mark Power on Sunday, a day after unveiling him to the press, but FUBA barred the two-time former MVP, saying he had not received clearance from his former club, the Mountain Dew Falcons.

Omony had joined Falcons on a three-year deal last season before walking out in protest over unpaid wages this year.

The guard sat out the entire first round, club-less. Sunday was meant to mark his return but instead he watched helplessly as Power blew out Miracle for a 90-67 win.

Today, the Eagles will expect a radical reversal in fortunes. The club, though, insist signing Omony –– who had never played for another local club except the Falcons –– is part of a long-term plan to try to build a championship team again.

“We are with him for the long term not just a quick fix,” said Miracle player and official Chris Kyebambe. “We want to build for the future with young talent and there is need for leadership.”

Kyebambe said Miracle, who already have six losses and are some distance away from the playoffs, can still make it to the postseason.