A1 Challenge Basketball Club has been a household name in Uganda’s women’s basketball.
However, A1’s fame has been underwhelmingly matched by achievements in as far as silverware is concerned having won the league just once in their history.
It has been well over a decade since they first and last saw glory. Of course one would not be wrong to say A1 has been unlucky not to win the league again having lost four consecutive finals from 2007 to 2010.
After the 2010 finals sweep by UCU Lady Canons, the team offered a bleak future and has not been competitive since to win a series against a good team let alone making the finals again. They have only lived up to the challenge to stay in the league which is equated to mediocrity for a team of A1’s stature.
Was there any change of direction this season?
Unlike the past seasons, A1 made significant additions – at least in terms of numbers and yes, some quality.
Guards Ruth Meeme, Stella Nikuze, and former MVP Gloria Kyomugisha returned to fill the void left by Moreen Amoding and Sylvia Nakazibwe. Racheal Nanyonga and Susan Amito were added to the front court.
With the new players, new coaches Sam Obol and Andrew Bazira came along to replace Geoffrey Omondi and Ali Mavita.
Clearly, team manager Carol Kisukye wanted to see real change at a team she loves and served as a player.
Obol and Bazira get to work
A1’s first and second outing of the season was against KIU Rangers. As expected they both games 58-44 and 47-39 against a depleted side. A1 went on to beat freshers Javon, Stormers and Nkumba to start the season 5-0.
All seemed rosy then came KCCA Leopards who handed A1 their first and second defeats of the season. They were not a heavy defeats though. Matter of fact A1 lost both games late in the fourth quarter.
After the two games, skipper Vickie Ntale told Kawowo Sports all would be fine and it was just a matter of polishing a few things.
I think there are just a few things to work on and we will be good. We are have lost these games late and we need to improve on the finish.
We need a little more time to gell with the new players. Susan (Aminto) is a good player but we are yet to figure out how to get the best of her.
Vickie Ntale, A1 Challenge captain.
There was a lot of positivity but when they lost to the JKL Lady Dolphins and UCU Lady Canons who are the other contenders outside of KCCA, concern started to grow from the manager, players and fans alike that the same A1 was showing up again.
After the 64-52 loss to UCU on August 5, Kisukye had a relatively long talk with Obol and Bazira at the YMCA parking. Her question to the coaches was: “Has the team failed you?”
She probably already had the answer as Obol was shown exit doors and Omondi took on the mantle again but Bazira was retained. The decision could have been influenced by the team’s senior players (as always) but Obol’s inability to get the team going against other big teams made the decision easy and obvious.
Olivia Mulwana who played sporadically under Obol and one of the smartest players on the team could not hide her disappointment. “I have no idea why I am not getting minutes,” she furious told this website then.
The Back Court
In Olvia Mulwana (though not fit) and Ruth Meeme, A1 have a backcourt pair that can match KCCA and UCU’s. With help from Joana Birungi, Stella Nikuze as well as Gloria Kyomugisha, the backcourt looks as good as any other in the league.
The Front Court
The opulence on the front should make it easy for A1 to score in the paint using the size Liz Bazira, Vickie Ondiso, and Susan Amito but that has not been the case.
Only small forward Vickie Ntale who is averaging nearly 10 points a game has come to the party this season.
So, what’s not right even with the personnel as good?
Attitude
Since making the finals in 2010, A1 seem to have gotten comfortable with being average. They have since never won a series against UCU or KCCA.
There seems to be a similar feeling among players that they just can not match the two best teams in the country and everyone has come to terms with that.
Joana Birungi, the most used point guard under Obol did not harness the scoring potential of Bazira, Ondiso and Amito. But is Meeme doing any better?
Playoffs
A1 Challenge starts their playoff journey against Javon Ladies tonight at YMCA. Game 2 of the series is on Wednesday, October 26 and if necessary Game 3 will be played on Sunday, October 30.
A1 is in line to face UCU Lady Canons in the second round of the playoffs and given past experience that will be all they can go.
