Namuwongo Blazers have appointed Spanish coach Luis Lopez Hernandez as head coach ahead of the 2026 Road to the Basketball Africa League (BAL) tournament.
The two-time National Basketball League champions will host the tournament at Hoima City Arena from October 21 to 25, with the new coach tasked with guiding the Ugandan side through the qualification campaign.
Hernandez has already held training sessions with the available local contingent as preparations gather momentum ahead of the continental assignment.
The experienced gaffer has previously worked with Ferroviaro de Beira in BAL and has also recently worked with Kepler Women in Rwanda.
The team is still awaiting the return of several players who have been on holiday, while recruits are also expected to join the squad to strengthen the roster before the tournament gets underway.
The appointment of Hernandez signals the Blazers’ determination to make a stronger impression on the continental stage after falling short in their previous attempt to progress through the Road to BAL qualifiers.
With the tournament taking place on home soil, the Namuwongo-based side will be eager to capitalise on home-court advantage and make a significant step towards securing a place in Africa’s premier club basketball competition.
The Blazers will need to navigate the preliminary stage successfully to keep their BAL ambitions alive, making the Hoima assignment a crucial test for Hernandez and his squad.
With preparations underway and reinforcements expected, the focus now shifts to building a competitive unit capable of challenging for qualification and taking Namuwongo Blazers closer to their dream of competing among Africa’s basketball elite.
