Ndejje University Angels literally rode on the back of Brian Odur last season and Geoffrey Soro the preceding season when he was named regular season MVP. This seemed like Jonah Otim’s season after the ZUKU University League triumph in which he was also named the MVP.
Winger, Brian Odur has been out for the season and Geoffrey Soro has been well far below the 2012 MVP and Jonah Otim has failed to get off the blocks with nearly regular season done. Ndejje are struggling. They just cant win a basketball game. Actually they haven’t won a game in the the last five outings since beating cellar dwellers DITS in August.
And not that Ndejje don’t want to win games, they actually do. “It is the honest truth – we have failed to win a game but we want to win a game. It is why we come here (YMCA) every day and fight” power forward, Geoffrey Soro told Kawowo Sports.
Their coach, Walker Obedi’s prime reason for the terrible season is injuries. “We have been affected by injuries. We are missing one of our best players – Odoush (Brian Odur)” he reasons. “Francis (Tumusiime) has a bad knee and he is always forced to that side by opponents”
At this point you are in agreement with Obedi. Not only doesn’t he have his best player of last season but also the only small forward on his team and a half fit number one in Tumusiime. Is it reason enough to have a bad season? Well, it could be but then the fidelity of his answer to the poor performance is debatable.
A coach has got to make pinpoint decisions and tactical calls under the circumstances for his team to thrive. Does Obedi do that for Ndejje?
Walker Obedi hardly sits during game time but when Ronnie Owino’s Warriors blazed past his team in the first round of last year’s playoffs with blow out victories using a suffocating Zone D, he could sit all through the second half.
There are only two legitimate reasons a basketball coach would sit and fold arms – when their team is playing exceptionally well that they can sit and enjoy the game or when the team is outclassed and the coach has no clue on countering their opponents. I am not insinuating anything yet…
Forget all the games Ndejje has given away (for lack of a better phrase) to the likes of Nkumba Marines. A debacle happened nearly a fortnight ago against KIU Titans. Ndejje are 3 points up with 9 seconds to go they lose by 2 points at the buzzer. No phrase can capture how terrible Angels looked in those seconds. Was that a playing problem or a coaching problem? Well, your answer is as good as mine.
What next for Ndejje then?
The regular season is nearing the end, playoffs are on line and Angels (5-12) are rooted in the tenth place. The only reason they wont fall below tenth is Diamonds in the Sun are more determined to go back where they were last season and former champions Nkumba Marines want to join them.
While Walker Obedi still thinks they can find their way into the playoffs, he also admits the season could be done. “Why not? We can still get in there (playoffs) with performances like this” a rather calm Obedi told Kawowo Sports after the 68-64 loss to Falcons last Friday.
“That is what the season has been – bad. We just have to let this pass” Obedi said and he was was backed by one of his ‘star’ players. “It has been a whole lot of stuff, man. Well, let this season just pass” Ndejje’s guard Jonah Otim said.
