2022 Old Rivalries Renewed: City Oilers vs Nam Blazers

Eight- champions, City Oilers and the majestic Nam Blazers will be going head-to-head yet again this year in what is expected to be a high-stakes game after both teams put on a marvelous performance back in 2022 – giving Ugandan basketball fans one of the most memorable and highly contested finals in an exceptionally long time. 

The 2022 game between City Oilers and Nam Blazers reminded the fans of what it felt like to see big teams such as Power and Falcons go head to toe at a time when both teams were still considered some of the toughest and most competitive teams in the game back then. 

Last season, the Lugogo MTN arena was packed beyond capacity with the safety of the players becoming a major worry as fans flooded the arena in large numbers ready to watch their teams fight for the top place. However, that day the City Oilers emerged victorious, beating the Namuwongo Blazers in game 7.

This season though, the City Oilers who are destined to take part in the BAL (Basketball Africa League) competition in Egypt to contest in the Nile Conference group, started off their campaign with high gear – obliterating everyone in the league will now face one of the biggest supported teams in the Ugandan basketball league who are determined to take on the 8-time champions pound for pound. 

However, City Oilers who added South Sudanese Michael, Fayed Baale, and Titus Lual Odeke to their roaster recently have been spitting fire and in their last two games, they welcomed back top shooter Tony Drilebba from an injury that had kept him on the sidelines for a while. 

Nam Blazers, on the other hand, are set to welcome back point guard Chris Omanye who was brutally injured by a gang of thieves during the off-season, Syrus Kiiviri is also set to return after missing two games. 

Who will be Missing for City Oilers and Nam Blazers?

The team will be without Paul Odong who is serving a disciplinary ban by FUFA and will be joined by Carlos Ochi and potentially Dickson Asiku who played the last game with an injury. 

While the defending champions could still be without point guard Fayed Baale who picked up a hamstring in a game against his former employers UCU Canons.

For the Oilers, it’s a case of getting as many games of the first round out the way before they embark on an African thrilling drama fest that has come to be known as the BAL competition. 

Whichever way you choose to look at it, a fixture that pits the Namuwongo fire boys and the Supreme Flour mascots against each other will always be a high-stakes game and my guarantee is that tomorrow, the Lugogo MTN Arena will be on fireworks. 

The opening fixture of the day will see JT Jaguars take on Angels at 7 pm.

Also, read; National Basketball League Opener Pushed to 19th March