What: Power Invite Tournament
When: October 30
Teams: Betway Power, UCU Canons, Nam Blazers, Falcons, UPDF Tomahawks, Takan Lokeris
The first ever Betway Power Invitational Tournament has been launched ahead of tip off this Saturday at YMCA court in Wandegeya.
The tourney has attracted six teams including select side Takan Lokeris.
This is a welcoming development for players and fans alike who felt hard done after FUBA cancelled the NBL season.
“As Betway Power Basketball Club, we realised that the players had not had enough action ever since June when the league was cancelled, so one of the things that we wanted to do is to activate our playing staff so that they can be able to start adjusting back to game time,” said Power General Manager Allan Musoke.
“It is also important to give back to our sponsor (Betway Uganda) who has been with us for the last three years. They have not got enough mileage only because of the inactivity that we have had.
“We had expressed interest to restart the season which did not come to fruition. We want to continue building on the team that we had started.”
Listen to Allan Musoke
Musoke revealed that the tournament will also honour the lost lives that contributed to the growth of local Basketball.
He added: “We lost one of the most important member Eliot Bagenda who succumbed to Malaria sometime in July, that was during lockdown and we were not able to fully commemorate him.”
He also commended FUBA and NCS who have “supported us” in the organisation of the tourney.
Betway, Club Beer and Rwenzori are the sponsors for the tournament that will house mainly the NBL fraternity for the next five weeks.
“Sport is possible amidst these difficult times and this shows that we can actually resume,” he added.
Power wants the tourney to be held annually, just like the UCU Invitational tournament.
And the team targets increased participation and the introduction of the Lady division next year.
Only two games will be played each Saturday because “we are a little bit restricted by time and the 7pm curfew.”
“We are hoping that as the tournament continues, we can also have Friday night games so that we can expand the tourney and it will remain invitational and we will allow teams to explore other playing options.”
The winner will bank Sh2m, while first and second runners up take home Sh1.5 and Sh500,000 respectively and trophies.
Musoke also added that the tournament will follow Covid19 guidelines including testing of players every Friday.
