Namuwongo Blazers head coach Luis Lopez Hernandez has praised his players’ fighting spirit and positive attitude as the Ugandan champions prepare for the upcoming Road to the Basketball Africa League (BAL) tournament.
The tournament is scheduled to take place at Hoima City Arena from October 21 to 25, with the two-time National Basketball League champions seeking to make an impression against some of the region’s top sides.
Hernandez, who was recently appointed to lead the Blazers during the qualifying campaign, is encouraged by the attitude of his squad despite having limited time to prepare for the competition.
“I like the team. They have a fighting spirit and are so enthusiastic, and I am impressed with their positive attitude. We can build a great team with this attitude. The problem is that we don’t have a lot of time, but I am really impressed,” Lopez said.
The Spanish tactician has already held three training sessions with the team and believes the players are making progress as they adapt to his methods.
He is particularly pleased with the squad’s willingness to learn, expressing confidence in the players’ ability to improve as preparations intensify.
“I am happy to work with smart players. They are improving every day, and I am glad to work with such a group. We have had three sessions, but I am glad to see that they are improving,” he added.
However, Hernandez is under no illusion about the task awaiting his side in Hoima, acknowledging that the competition will be challenging given the level of investment by rival teams.
With limited information about their opponents at this stage, the Blazers coach insists that his immediate priority is to strengthen his own squad and ensure the team is tactically prepared.
“It is going to be a tough challenge in the tournament because most of the teams have invested. We don’t know much about our opponents currently. However, we need to stick to improving our squad,” he noted.
The coach also stressed the importance of collective responsibility and tactical discipline, insisting that the Blazers must approach their matches with clear plans and play as a cohesive unit.
“We need to play as a team and go into games with a plan so that we put up the best show,” Lopez said.
With the countdown to the October 21 tip-off underway, the Blazers will be looking to make the most of their remaining preparations as they pursue a strong campaign on home soil.
As the Blazers look for a ticket to the Elite 16, they were pitted in Group D alongside Urunani BBC (Burundi), Patriots (South Sudan), Ushindi ( Comoros) and COSPN ( Madagascar).
For Lopez, building team chemistry, improving the squad and instilling a clear playing identity will be crucial as Namuwongo Blazers prepare to test themselves against the competition in Hoima.
