City Oilers face KPA in opener.
Tuesday, December 17
*GNBC Vs Unza pacers – 1:30PM
*Ferroviario Vs Cobra – 4PM
*KPA Vs City Oilers – 6:30PM
*Patriots Vs JKT – 9PM
Uganda six time back to back NBL champions City Oilers will be targeting a perfect start when they meet Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) in their opener at the second round of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) qualifiers in Kigali, Rwanda.
However, by press time, the Kenyan champions had not arrived in Rwanda and reports had suggested that they might have pulled out.
The Oilers will be targeting to finish among the top three to reach the 2020 inaugural BAL.
The Ugandan side beefed their squad with the addition of Bashir Yusuf Muhammad on the coaching bench to help head coach Mandy Juruni ahead of the difficult hurdle.
Players Devonte Elliot, Tyler Petty and Ivan Lumanyika are the new additions from the team that scooped second in the first round held in Dar Es Salam, Tanzania.
The side will not be with injured duo of Stephen Omony and Chisioke Azolibe but they had three players – Jordin Mayes, Landry Ndikumana and Robinson Opong – who averaged double points in Dar.
Oilers held days of training at Gems Cambridge where they beat UCU Canons 78-59 in a practice game on Saturday before travelling to Kigali on Sunday.
They are pooled in group B alongside KPA (Kenya), Cobra (South Sudan) and Ferroviario De Maputo (Mozambique) with the top two reaching the semis.
Pool A has Rwandan champions Patriots, JTK (Tanzania), GNBC (Madagascar) and UNZA Pacers (Zambia).
Against KPA, coached by Samuel Kiki Nganga and Cliff Owuor, Oilers face a tricky side that came as champions in the first round of group F.
The side will be driven by Power forward Okall Karanga, Kennedy Wachira, Dickson Odhiambo, Valentine Onyango, Evans Letting Kipchirchir, Michale Kazunguzibwa and Job Ayodi among others.
