For the second consecutive season, City Oilers head coach Andrew Tendo found himself offering proud yet painful consolation to a battered squad as the National Basketball League (NBL) crown slipped through their fingers once again.
Reflecting on a decisive game seven loss where defensive discipline evaporated when it mattered most, Tendo conceded that interior vulnerabilities and an unforgiving injury bug ultimately proved too heavy a burden to carry.
“We were not consistent with our defence and gave out some easy baskets in the paint,” Tendo lamented after the final buzzer while talking to Kawowo Sports. “We tried to get it back but I guess it was not our day today.”
The defensive breakdown in the key was the final blow in what Tendo revealed was a grueling campaign fought largely behind the trainer’s table.
Despite missing key personnel at critical junctures of the postseason, the Oilers caller refused to fault his players’ determination.
“I am so proud of them,” Tendo insisted. “We have been struggling with injuries here and there. We have struggled here and there, but I still think they gave it their best, though it hardly worked out this time.”
End of an Era, Time for Rebuilding
For a franchise long accustomed to dominance, suffering back-to-back finals defeats marks an agonising shift in the league’s hierarchy.
Yet Tendo remains adamant that this setback will serve as the foundation for a structural overhaul rather than a permanent slide.
“It’s tough to lose the championship back-to-back, but we have to go back to the drawing board and change a few things so that we get back to winning ways,” Tendo declared.
With the offseason now underway, Tendo’s mandate is clear: rebuild the team, restore squad health and redesign a system capable of reclaiming the 10-time NBL title champions’ spot at the top of Ugandan basketball.
