All eyes will be on the Lugogo Indoor Arena and Abja Park tonight as the 2025 National Basketball League (NBL) continues with two mouthwatering men’s fixtures.
Defending champions City Oilers face a stern test against the ambitious Victoria Crocs at 9pm live on NBS Sport and AfroMobile, while table-topping Namuwongo Blazers aim for a tenth straight win when they lock horns with Rezlife Saints in Naalya.
The Oilers, who boast a record ten consecutive championships, are enduring their most turbulent season in recent memory.
With just two wins in their opening six games, the side is teetering on the edge of a full-blown crisis.
Their most recent loss; a dramatic 62-64 overtime defeat to JKL Dolphins, laid bare the team’s current struggles.
Despite leading 18-11 after the first quarter, the Oilers faltered under pressure, with poor shooting and a lack of bench production compounding their woes.
Fayed Baale (17 points) and Joseph Chuma (15 points) put up valiant efforts, while returning big man Titus Lual added 10 rebounds in his season debut.
But a woeful 7-of-41 shooting from three-point range and only 8 bench points highlighted the cracks in a once-invincible outfit.
Off the court, things are just as grim. The club remains embroiled in a public fallout with former captain Ivan Muhwezi, who accused team manager Grace Kwizera of misrepresenting the reasons for his departure.
Kwizera had alleged on NBS Sport’s The Rebound last Thursday that Muhwezi vanished after receiving a salary advance and rent support; a claim the shooting guard vehemently denied.
Muhwezi, now training with another club, stated he’s targeting a return to action in the second round and may be on his way to join former Oilers teammates at the red-hot Nam Blazers.
With their dynasty under threat, the Oilers face a Victoria Crocs side that has been impressive in their debut top-flight campaign, registering four wins from eight games.
Led by standout guard Wobushobozi Cyrus, who dropped 17 points in a recent outing, the Crocs have proven to be more than just league newcomers.
However, back-to-back losses to Sommet and KCCA Panthers have pegged them back, and they will be desperate to return to winning ways.
Meanwhile, the Namuwongo Blazers are in a league of their own.
Nine wins out of nine games, unmatched defensive intensity, and a star-studded roster have propelled them to the top of the standings.
Tonight, they welcome back veteran forward James Okello for their clash against the inconsistent Rezlife Saints at Abja Park in Naalya at 9pm.
Okello returns after serving a one-match suspension and paying a $200 fine for his involvement in a scuffle with Livingstone’s Diopa Lukusa.
His averages of 8.8 points and 5.5 rebounds per game bring added steel and experience to an already dominant Blazers team.
The Saints, with a 5-5 record, remain a mixed bag. They will have to bring their A-game to stand a chance against a Blazers team that has eyes firmly set on dethroning the Oilers and claiming their first league title.
Coming off a tight 49-55 loss to JT Jaguars, Rezlife must put in their best defensive effort yet if they are to spring a surprise.
