Friday, 1st November 2013:
KIU TITANS Vs CITY OILERS (Men) – 7 :30 pm
A1 CHALLENGE Vs KIU RANGERS (Women) – 9:30 pm
At Lugogo Indoor Arena.
Federation of Uganda Basketball Federation (FUBA) has once again reached yet another landmark. For the first time, millions of spectators will enjoy the 2013 play-offs from the comfortable environs of their homes, offices, pubs, bars and other entertainment hubs or elsewhere.
The positive development follows FUBA’s successful memorandum of understanding signed on Thursday at Triangle Hotel in Kampala between NBS Television management, the broadcast Sponsor, Pepsi and the basketball ruling body in the country.
“There will be 16 fixtures that have been selected to be aired live on NBS Television every Fridays at 7:30 pm and Sundays at 5:30 pm”, Joe Kigozi, the head of Corporate affairs, NBS Television revealed to the club officials , FUBA Executive members present and sports journalists on Thursday morning.
Kigozi said the NBS television package has been made more enticing with great match previews, match commentary, analysis before and after the games , slow motion camera tricks, player profiles and recorded games to be replayed to all those who missed the live matches and archive purposes.
Crown Beverages under the brand, Pepsi handed over a dummy cheque of Ug Shs. 45 Million that will facilitate the 16 games. “The telecast of play-offs is another step reached. The door is open to other sponsors as long as they are not direct competitors with the available ones on board”, Ali Balunywa remarked in reference to welcoming more stake holders to join Castle Lite, the official Play-offs sponsors, who were joined by Rwenzori, Pepsi and now NBS Television.
The Basketball Federation head, Ambrose Tashobya commended Pepsi and NBS television for joining the noble cause of transforming basketball to another level altogether.
“Exposure that will come forth with the prime time coverage is much appreciated. This will be another plat form to luring more partners on board and helping the sport grow to new heights in Uganda”, Tashobya told Kawowo Sports in a special exclusive after the NBS unveiling ceremony.
The play-offs officially kick off on Friday evening as KIU Titans face the City Oilers in a men’s affair at 7:30 pm before a lady’s do at 9:30 pm between A1 Challenge and KIU Rangers. On this day, the official FUBA website will be officially made known to the public.
Last week, Nile Breweries Limited under the Castle lite brand officially unveiled a Ug Shs 170 M sponsorship package to help see a smooth progression of the play-offs.
The regular basketball season that was successfully sponsored by Communications giants, Airtel, climaxed with D’Mark Power topping the men’s standings on 40 points, same as UCU Canons but with a better basket difference while UCU Lady Canons won the women’s version unbeaten on 42 points from 21 games played.
