| By Walter Washika,
:: 08-08-2011
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As I meandered through the crowds at the YMCA Wandegeya basketball grounds on July 29, I noticed Jerry, a long-time friend of mine, seated on
the last ladder and drawn to his phone. He was waiting for the big game between the six-time league champions the Falcons and the last season play-off contenders the Canons.
Jerry then put back the phone and looked down at the courts, his eyes riveted to the ball from hoop to hoop. I could tell he was supporting the Canons, from the way he celebrated every move they made.
Sudi Ulanga of Canons must have paid Jerry his money’s worth.
From the time Ulanga receives the pass from Sunday Okot, to administer swift darts, ball handles and a crossover that got Falcon’s Abdalla Ramadhan entangled and staggering to the ground, Jerry was restless as the scoreboard read 28-19 at the end of first quarter.
“Why is the Canon’s bench so slim?” Jerry raised a concern. He might have gotten the same answer I got when I asked Coach Nixon Natuhereza. “Some players are serving suspensions for missing training while others are nursing injuries,” said Natuhereza.
Jerry was up for a drink and a pair of sausages at half-time after the Canons cut the lead to 2 points, 43-41. He shook his head in wonder about every block the newly signed 6.9” Jachin made against MVP Zone Five Richard Osano.
The gigantic Desmond dusted off former Canon Steven Mwesigwa to a spectacular dunk while Sunday Okot made three pointer shots to give Canons the edge.
Jerry then lolled back, his hands woven across his huge chest 55 seconds to the end of the game as the Canons enjoyed a ten-point lead of 80-69, which became the final score.
“Why didn’t Phillip Ameyo play?” Jerry wondered with a gesture of the hand. “He had pending official clearance from the Kenyan Federation,” said Falcons coach Sam Obol
“We lacked endurance and were not mentally strong,” Obol explained the loss. |
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Uganda Christian University's community newspaper
:: Uganda Christian University 2008