The two teams have had contrasting fortunes this season and find themselves fighting for different reasons.
One of them is seeking to make a statement prior to the play-offs and the other is seeking to spoil the party as they seek to rebuild for the 2012-13 season.
A1 Challenge host the Lady Canons who have had a 100% start to the second round of the league.
Barely a week ago, they disposed off KCC Leopards handing them their first loss in the season 66:59, and getting their sweet revenge, having lost to KCC in the first round 62:67. This win see's the Lady Canons top the table with 37 points and KCC Leopards drop to number two on the table with the same points.
I know this may be far fetched but i just have to say this, the FUBA 2011-12 season has been quite a spectacle to the average fan, from fortfeits, to attempted forfeits, to player-fan flexing, to lymphatic win-loss columns to mention but afew.
Speaking of lymphatic win-loss columns, just last week saw UCU Canons thump Charging Rhino's sending them back to DIV II in style 91:41. And then KIU Rangers offense went all out firing their arsenal at the Makerere Cubs 71:7, i mean if these stats are not appaling then i do not know what is.
The KIU-Mak Cubs game say history made. It was the first time since the inception of the womens league that a team has failed to score double figures, talk about making headlines for all the wrong reasons. Needless to say that the Mak Cubs are yet to win a game in the league.
Turning our attention to the Sunday 4pm kick off, call it what you want to, but A1 Challenge host the Lady Canons seeking revenge for just about everything. Last seasons play-off finals defeat and the first round loss, which i guess will be a little fresh in the players minds.
Lady Canons whose Akinyi Lorraine, Maureen Amoding, Mbone Brenda and Purity Adhiambo were crucial in bringing KCC Leopards down-to-earth, will be at it again. This time against the defence of Bazira Lizzie, Okot Barbra, M.K. Erykah and Larrisah's of this world. On a good day, the A1 defense can really chock a pretty lethal offense. However, this season has been strange if i may say.
Offensively, we are hoping that Irakoze Doreen will be more precise from the on-set in her execution when attacking the basket, Bazira Liz can stay out of foul trouble and torment the Canons defense, Mariam will continue in her relentless driving-in efforts which she has been known for, Mulwana Olivia and Barbra can bring their A-game in the shooting aspect, and with Khisa Mary, Kyomugisha Gloria knitting the game plan together, we wait to see what end-picture the painters' brush will sketch out after the final whistle.
Still Out:
Sylvia- academic commitments
Bagiire Dorcas- long illness
Lokidi Angellah- broken ankle injury among others.
The A1 Challenge team which made it in the finals last season, have failed to make it to the play-offs this season and are cleaning up the closets and preparing mentally and entirely as a whole for the next season, as they seek to lay a more stable foundation.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
A1 Challenge Crumbles Before Nabisunsa Girls 42 : 53
On an afternoon of mixed feelings, Team A1 Challenge approached Nabisunsa Girls who themselves were fresh from upsetting Magic Stormers the previous week convincingly.
Nabisunsa led by Chemutai Joy and Ashaba Ruth, were completed with Agnes, Sharon and Lillian which combination has formed a pretty solid unit with a relentless work rate and were surely seeking to finishing their second round with a resounding gong.
A1 Challenge themselves hadn't been in action for two weeks having last seen off Makerere Cubs, and a little rust was showing in their offensive precision as they attacked the basket.
Case in point is A1 Challenge Centre Irakoze Doreen who struggled to establish herself in the first two quarters though she quickly recovered in the consequent quarters.
Okot Barbra was by far one of the better players on the day, lethal in her shooting accuracy and relentless in her defensive approach to the game. Though mother fate had her clash with one of the umpire's Brian for one of the many controversial calls on the day.
One of his calls saw him give Bazira Liz a foul which Kyomugisha Gloria had committed and that saw her fouled out for the fourth game in the second round with 3 points to her name, one of her lowest personal scores this entire season.
Chemutai Joy's continued resilience as she made the A1 Challenge defensive of Fredrickah, Barbra, Kyomugisha Gloria and Larrisah think hard as they tried to stop her and Ashaba Ruthie.
With Liz and Carol ejected controversially, Coach Hamza Nyambogo was totally infuriated by the umpire's decisions and decided to call off the entire team, threatening a forfeit which would see A1 Challenge docked of points from their first round win against Nabisunsa and see Nabisunsa Girls gain the points from the same fixture in the first round where they were lymphatically beaten 67:39.
The approximately 3 minute stand-off was pre-maturely called off by Coach Hamza Nyambogo as he let the ladies finish the game which ended 42 : 53 in favor of Nabisunsa Girls.
This victory see's the Nabisunsa outfit seeking to finish their second round with four straight wins if they can see off the Crane High ladies this Sunday, Makerere University courts at 13:30 hours. And if they are to build on this confidence a 4 in 0 record isn't a far fetched thought or is it?
Team A1 Challenge re-group as soon as possible as they prepare for their final game of the season against the high riding Lady Canons who are having a pretty decent season. With their players looking good and in great form, ready for the play-offs; this will be no walk in the park if Team A1 seek to spoil the party in the Lady Canons camp. Akinyi Lorraine, Maureen Amoding, Brendah Mbone and company all relishing this tie as they get themselves physically and mentally prepared for the play-offs.
Next Game:
A1 Challenge vs UCU Lady Canons [13th Nov] at 4pm
Scoring
Okot Barbra ----10 points
Irakoze Doreen----10 points
Khisa Maria ---6 points
+Defensively aggressive in picking the rebounds
+More accurate in free throw point shooting
+Mobility-run the clock down and not take the foot off the pedal-body language
+Work/fight for each other
+Have faith in each other and constantly encourage each other because in the face of adversity you'll need each other.
Nabisunsa led by Chemutai Joy and Ashaba Ruth, were completed with Agnes, Sharon and Lillian which combination has formed a pretty solid unit with a relentless work rate and were surely seeking to finishing their second round with a resounding gong.
A1 Challenge themselves hadn't been in action for two weeks having last seen off Makerere Cubs, and a little rust was showing in their offensive precision as they attacked the basket.
Case in point is A1 Challenge Centre Irakoze Doreen who struggled to establish herself in the first two quarters though she quickly recovered in the consequent quarters.
Okot Barbra was by far one of the better players on the day, lethal in her shooting accuracy and relentless in her defensive approach to the game. Though mother fate had her clash with one of the umpire's Brian for one of the many controversial calls on the day.
One of his calls saw him give Bazira Liz a foul which Kyomugisha Gloria had committed and that saw her fouled out for the fourth game in the second round with 3 points to her name, one of her lowest personal scores this entire season.
Chemutai Joy's continued resilience as she made the A1 Challenge defensive of Fredrickah, Barbra, Kyomugisha Gloria and Larrisah think hard as they tried to stop her and Ashaba Ruthie.
With Liz and Carol ejected controversially, Coach Hamza Nyambogo was totally infuriated by the umpire's decisions and decided to call off the entire team, threatening a forfeit which would see A1 Challenge docked of points from their first round win against Nabisunsa and see Nabisunsa Girls gain the points from the same fixture in the first round where they were lymphatically beaten 67:39.
The approximately 3 minute stand-off was pre-maturely called off by Coach Hamza Nyambogo as he let the ladies finish the game which ended 42 : 53 in favor of Nabisunsa Girls.
This victory see's the Nabisunsa outfit seeking to finish their second round with four straight wins if they can see off the Crane High ladies this Sunday, Makerere University courts at 13:30 hours. And if they are to build on this confidence a 4 in 0 record isn't a far fetched thought or is it?
Team A1 Challenge re-group as soon as possible as they prepare for their final game of the season against the high riding Lady Canons who are having a pretty decent season. With their players looking good and in great form, ready for the play-offs; this will be no walk in the park if Team A1 seek to spoil the party in the Lady Canons camp. Akinyi Lorraine, Maureen Amoding, Brendah Mbone and company all relishing this tie as they get themselves physically and mentally prepared for the play-offs.
Next Game:
A1 Challenge vs UCU Lady Canons [13th Nov] at 4pm
Scoring
Okot Barbra ----10 points
Irakoze Doreen----10 points
Khisa Maria ---6 points
+Defensively aggressive in picking the rebounds
+More accurate in free throw point shooting
+Mobility-run the clock down and not take the foot off the pedal-body language
+Work/fight for each other
+Have faith in each other and constantly encourage each other because in the face of adversity you'll need each other.
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