KAMPALA (Uganda) - Fresh from being crowded Uganda's champions, ending a 10-year City Oilers dominance, Namuwongo Blazers are carrying that momentum to Nairobi, where they suit up against hosts Nairobi City Thunder and Johannesburg Giants in Group A.
History
While this is their first Road to BAL rodeo, Blazers have rivaled a star-studded Oilers since joining the top flight in 2020. Two years later, they played in the league final against the dominant Oilers, pushing them all the way to a decider Game Seven. At the beginning of the just-concluded league season, Blazers raided Oilers, landing the signatures of experienced quartet of Jimmy Enabu, Tonny Drileba, James Okello and Ivan Muhwezi, for a lethal squad that eventually knocked Oilers off their perch.
Coach
Stephen Nyeko has been part of Blazers since inception in 2014, navigating the challenging lower division with the squad to gain promotion to the top tier in 2019. Their debut was delayed by Covid 19, but they showed up in 2022, their first full season, going on to top the regular league, but fell in the final. The script repeated itself in 2023 where they topped the regular season, but a decision by FUBA, the Ugandan federation, not to field a team in the Road to BAL demotivated Blazers and they withdrew from the national playoffs. Coach Nyeko has been through it all and while he missed the side's Group Phase action, his player Tony Dribela taking over to lead the side to the Elite 16, he is ready to make history in Nairobi.
Key Players
Blazers have their foot soldiers led by Ugandan international Peter Obleng, the star of the show as the side obliterated Comoros' Djabal 132-58, scoring 39, to advance to the Elite 16. Jovan Mooring, who turned out for South African side MBB last season, joins the Ugandan side as does Senegalese Center, Mohammed Sidy Djitte adding to the depth on both sides of the court. Meanwhile, Drileba who coached the side in Dar es Salaam in the Group Phase, is back on the team roster, having led the side to national glory last week.
How They Qualified
Playing in Group D hosted in Dar es Salaam, the side fell to hosts Dar City 83-70 but redeemed themselves with a massive 132-58 victory against Djabal. Having topped the Ugandan regular league, they were selected as the country's representatives to this year's qualifiers way before they lifted their maiden national league.
Elite 16 East Division, Group A
Blazers have been pooled against South Africa Johannesburg Giants, and hosts Nairobi City Thunder in Group A.
While the hosts have experience on this stage, the other two sides are on debut but have experienced players who have featured for several sides in the Road to BAL and the continental showpiece as well.
FIBA