Today at YMCA
M: UCU v Warriors (8.30 pm)
W: KCC v KIU (6.30 pm)
Wednesday result
Ndejje 69-42 Heaters
Mandy Juruni wants to tweak Kyambogo Warriors’ philosophy in order to at least match last year’s success in the MTN-Fuba League Division One.
Famed for being slow, the losing finalists start their season today against UCU Canons with coach Juruni hoping to go one step better than his predecessor Gad Eteu.
“In the time I have been here, we have been working on improving our speed because this team is always known for being slow,” Juruni said at practice.
Big signing
Signing guard Ivan Enabu from UCU in the off-season might serve that purpose quite well for a team that took so long to gel last season. Whereas they laboured through the regular season, UCU were cruising but laboured past KIU Titans 59-53 last Saturday.
Coach Nick Natuhereza doesn’t want to think tipping-off before Warriors do brings an advantage. “You might play first and it helps but in most cases, there’s no big difference since every game is different,” he said.
He expects guard Sudi Ulanga (malaria), forward Desmond Owili and centre Robert Ogweno to play after missing the opener. The latter two had family engagements. UCU could also be helped by Martin Okwako having inside knowledge having been with Warriors for the past two years.
In that time, they won the league and were on the wrong end of a thrilling 4-3 finals loss to DMark Power. Nothing less than another Holy Grail will please former MVP Ronnie Kasewu if the Malinga brothers, Henry and Eric, plus Michael Kariuki settle in quicker than last year. “Our target is get to the finals and try to win back the (league) title,” Kasewu vowed. Elsewhere, KCC Leopards face KIU Rangers in a women’s clash of two sides that got to the semifinals last season.