Wednesday, August 30 (Lugogo)
•Magic Stormers Vs JKL Lady Dolphins, 6:30pm
•KCCA Panthers Vs Ndejje Angels, 8:30pm
Ndejje University Angels will continue to be without key new signing Gatwang Thuok in their National Basketball League encounter against KCCA Panthers.
The South Sudanese International serves his second and last match ban after a ruling by the FUBA Competitions Council.
Ndejje and Gatwang were at the wrong end of Article 3.01 of the FUBA Competition rules and regulations on player eligibility.
Ndejje wrongly fielded Gatwang against City Oilers and Our Saviour before the player had acquired his Letter of Clearance (LOC)!
The Letter of Clearance is a document that allows a player to transfer from one national basketball federation (or league) to another.
This letter is important in that it certifies that the player has no pending obligations or restrictions from their previous federation (or league) and is eligible to represent the new federation (or league).
Gatwang was used in the two games against City Oilers and Our Saviour, which the club went on to win, including breaking the former’s unbeaten run.
FUBA has since reversed the results, with Ndejje forfeiting the games and losing both 20-00!
Consequently, Gatwang was fined $100 or it’s equivalent in Uganda shillings (which is Sh370,000).
FUBA banned the player for two games, not four as it is in the rule book (given the league is concluding in the second round)
Ndejje were also fined $150 or it’s equivalent in Shillings (which is Sh550,000).
The ruling came as a huge blow to Ndejje who had won four games in a row at the time, including wins against UCU Canons and JKL Dolphins.
And on Sunday, they lost to KIU Titans 84-101 in a match Gatwang served his first game ban.
Ndejje University Angels sit bottom on the 12-team log, with a 5-11 record, and four games to go.
After KCCA Panthers on Wednesday, they will face Rezlife Saints, UPDF Tomahawks and Kampala Rockets all which are still in relegation dog-fight.
They beat KCCA 71-69 in March this year in the First Round, and will bank on such to stage a good show.
Samuel Ajak who scored 33 points in the loss against KIU Titans, will be the key player once again for John Omondi (Mapeesa) side.
All is not well either for Brian Wathum’s KCCA Panthers who sit third from the bottom with a 7-12 record.
They have won once, against Rezlife Saints 87-81, in their last four games. They come into this fixture on the back of a 81-91 defeat against JKL Dolphins.
This is a must win game for KCCA Panthers as well, as their remaining two games will be against UCU Canons and D-Mark Power.
