The City Oilers, a dominant force in Ugandan basketball, are showing no signs of slowing down. Having won an impressive nine league titles in a row, they remain determined to achieve even more success.
Their recent victory, a commanding 78-63 win against the KIU Titans, secured their ninth consecutive championship in a best-of-seven series, which they won 4-2. This remarkable achievement places the City Oilers in a league of their own, leaving their closest competitors, the Falcons, with just six titles since 2007 and no immediate prospects of catching up.
With every successful year, questions arise about the level of competition in the National Basketball League and whether any team can challenge the City Oilers’ supremacy.
Mandy Juruni, the team’s coach, emphasized their commitment to continuous success during the celebration of their latest title. “We have to keep winning whenever an opportunity is there,” he stated. “We want to continue with the development of the club and players and write more history in Ugandan basketball.”
Over the years, various teams like UCU Canons, Dmark Power, Falcons, Namuwongo Blazers, and KIU have attempted to dethrone the Oilers in the finals, but none have succeeded. The bar for excellence seems to rise with each trophy won.
After narrowly overcoming a challenge from the Blazers last season, the City Oilers strengthened their team by adding Uganda’s top prospects, Fayed Baale and Titus Lual. This strategic move resulted in yet another championship win.
Now, the City Oilers have their sights set on bigger goals, including competing at the highest level of African basketball. Their inaugural season in the Basketball Africa League (BAL) saw them struggle, finishing at the bottom of the Nile Conference with a 1-4 record, missing out on the playoffs.
The team’s manager, Grace Kwizera, is determined to see the BAL title come to Uganda in the near future. “We want to win BAL in five years,” he declared.
The City Oilers’ debut season in the BAL was a learning experience. Their recruitment for the continental competition raised questions, and the results reflected the challenges they faced. Juruni acknowledged the need to strengthen the club to become a dominant force at the continental level.
Their journey towards the second BAL season will kick off at the Elite 16 level in South Africa in about two weeks, with the competition scheduled to run from November 14 to 19. This stage will determine the teams that advance to the BAL regular season. The City Oilers remain committed to achieving new heights and bringing more basketball glory to Uganda.
