National Basketball League
Friday
Women, 7pm
JKL Lady Dolphins v JT Lady Jaguars
Men, 9pm
Nam Blazers v City Oilers
Namuwongo Blazers will be out to prove a point when they lock horns with reigning champions City Oilers in a highly anticipated National Basketball League clash on Friday at Lugogo Indoor Arena.
The matchup comes months after the Oilers handed the Blazers a disappointing 74-65 defeat in their opening game of the season back in February, a contest in which Namuwongo struggled offensively, particularly from long range.
Despite that setback, the Blazers transformed into one of the league’s most consistent sides, putting together an impressive 15-game winning streak before their momentum was halted by Rezlife Saints earlier this week in Lubowa.
Namuwongo’s defeat exposed several weaknesses, especially on the boards and in perimeter shooting, as they failed to slow down Rezlife guard Edrine Ekau, who exploded for 32 points. The Blazers also endured a difficult night from three-point range, converting only six of their 25 attempts.
However, Friday’s encounter presents a different challenge altogether, and the Blazers are expected to be far stronger than the side that lost the season opener. Tony Drileba missed that earlier meeting through injury, while Anthony Chukwurah was unavailable at the time. The squad has since been boosted by the addition of Kasereka Tembo.
City Oilers, meanwhile, have looked dominant for most of the campaign. Their only loss came against Rezlife Saints in the first round, but they responded emphatically and are currently riding a 16-game unbeaten run.
The Oilers head into the contest fresh from a commanding 92-63 victory over Kampala Rockets, with Joel Lukoji and Fayed Baale both delivering 20-point performances.
Friday’s game also carries extra intrigue because of the strong connections between the two clubs. Lukoji faces his former team, while Namuwongo parade several ex-Oilers stars including Drileba, Ivan Muhwezi, James Okello, and Jimmy Enabu.
The champions have further strengthened their roster with the arrival of Jonathan Komagum, who made an instant impact against the Rockets, contributing 12 points and seven rebounds. Additional reinforcements in Patrick Rembert and Germaine Roebuck Jr. are also expected to join the Oilers after the regular season concludes.
