It doesn’t happen often that a team gets promoted and hits the ground running, but after a few games into last season, City Oilers looked like they would do that and to some wild thinkers – contenders. They emerged champions!
While administrators aimed at winning a title in the second year (2014), the championship came in the rookie season. It takes more than having good players to achieve that.
“It’s about organization, desire and opportunities” a soft spoken City Oilers’ coach, Mandy Juruni told Kawowo Sports back then after the triumph over Falcons in Game 7. “You just have to be organized, have desire for what you want to achieve and take your opportunities” he explained.
Now the sight is on the upcoming regional Zone V Club Championships that will tip-off on August 25 in Mombasa, Kenya and yes, your guess is as good as mine on what the City Oilers’ hierarchy set as the ambition going into the tournament against the regions best teams.
While it is criminal for an ordinary hoop head to even think City Oilers have got a chance against regional heavy weights, City Oilers manager, Silver Rugambwa actually believes the Oilers can win the annual event in the team’s first go at the zonal basketball club honors.
“We can win the Zone V. We have got the players to win it.” Rugambwa told Kawowo Sports. “We want to play on the continent and these guys are capable”
City Oilers only involvement beyond the borders came a few weeks ago when they participated in the Gisenyi Memorial tourney in Rwanda and Rugambwa believes it was productive.
“Our trip to Kigali was purely for exposure and we go it” he said.
The City Oilers may be winning league games with scratches but notably they are doing a whole lot of things differently especially on the offense.
“The emphasis in the league has been on things that will help us in the Zone V”