Wednesday, October 16
*Dynamo (Burundi) Vs City Oilers
City Oilers’ guard Josh Johnson has suffered an injury on Tuesday morning in a practice session, The-SportsNation.com sources can confirm.
City Oilers are already in Tanzania ahead of the inaugural Basketball Africa League (BAL) qualifiers in Dar Es Salam slated for October 16-20.
The former Ipswich Town bearded-player will miss the team’s opener against Burundi’s Dynamo and he might not recover in time for the next games.
City Oilers who travelled without Jimmy Enabu as he ponders his retirement due to his new education schedule, is also without former UCU Canons player Jonathan Egau.
Egau is with the Silverbacks 3X3 team that is competing at the ongoing World Beach games in Doha, Qatar.
The new development leaves slims Oilers’ quality at the back court, with new addition Jordin Mayes expected to carry all the weight.
Against Dynamo in the opener, Oilers will bank on Burundian International and big man Landry Ndikumana.
Oilers, Patriots Favourites
Oilers are in group D of the qualifiers alongside Patriots (Rwanda), JKT (Tanzania), Dynamo (Burundi) and Hawasa (Ethiopia). Malawi’s Brave Hearts pulled out.
The top two teams from Dar will qualify to the next stage, which will all but be played in South Africa.
On paper, Oilers and Rwanda’s Patriots are clear favorites because of their history and quality, and it is expected to be like a final when the two giants meet on Sunday at 2:30PM at the National Indoor Stadium.
The Rwandan club will bank on the experience of Kenneth Gasana and Aristide Mugabe while Kenya’s Michael Makiadi, formerly at Betway Power, is expected to play an integral part against Oilers after facing them on various occasions when he was still playing in Uganda league (NBL).
Oilers, two time back to back Zone five champion, will face Hawasa on Thursday, JKT and Patriots on Friday and Sunday respectively.
The Roster
City Oilers – Ben Komakech, Josh Johnson (injured), Daniel Jjuko, Tony Drilieba, Ivan Muhwezi, Abel Omoding, Jordin Mayes, Robinson Opong, Stephen Omony, James Okello, Landry Ndikumana, Francis Azolibe.
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