Wednesday Fixtures (YMCA):
W: Stormers vs. JKL – 6PM
M: Rhino vs. Oilers – 8pm
For league defending champions City Oilers, the national basketball league games are just a way of preparing for something bigger- the Zone V Club championship slated for early next month.
After their game with KIU Titans was washed out by rain last Friday, Mandy Juruni’s charges return to action on Wednesday with a fixture they are expected to walk through without breaking a sweat.
Charging Rhino is not the team you would want to face before a serious tournament and Juruni agrees his side has not faced the serious competition required as they head into their third straight Zone V appearance.
“That (lack of competition) is a big challenge for us but we have to deal with it,” the national team tactician told Kawowo Sports on Tuesday. “We have our individual and team targets so we have to keep working for zone V,” he added.
Oilers have not lost a game this season and have only been challenged by last year’s losing finalists UCU Canons and two time winners Pemba Warriors.
The game against Rhino is yet another Oilers will rely on to check their fitness levels and try out different rotations.
Zone V the main target
Juruni also confirmed that Ugandan international Stanley Ociti will be joining the team soon and will travel with the side to the Zone V championship to give them an extra push for the title.
“It (Zone V) is our primary target and we are preparing for it,” he said.
Ociti is expected to join the side soon and will play a few games in the league before the team departs.