Sande Bashaija
12 October 2008
Kampala — Mogas Falcons on Thursday proved they are still capable of defending their MTN-Fuba League title. The six-time champions outlasted highflying Sadolin Power 48-46, on the same day lowly KCC Lions upset Miracle Eagles by an identical score at YMCA Wandegeya.
Power requested the league technical committee to have the game moved to their YMCA home ground from Namboole, though the change of venue finally played in their opponents' favour.
Most important though, Power wanted the game at YMCA to help them raise funds to contribute to the organization of the last funeral rites of their departed star Wilbrod Okecho.
"If Okecho was still around he would be making 29 years today. Though he is gone, this day is special. We are celebrating his birthday as a team," Power skipper Isaac Afidra, who watched the game from the sidelines because of injury stated.
Okecho, who died of gunshot wounds in April, was voted Most Valuable Player (MVP) when Power outclassed Falcons to win the 2000 championship.
Okecho's family was yesterday celebrating the star's last funeral rites. "We decided to give 70% of the gate collections to Okecho's family," Afidra added.
The game played under floodlights was as emotional as it was exciting, Power recovering from an 11-point second quarter deficit but a few errors later on denied them a fifth straight victory since round two got underway last month.
Falcons star man Henry Malinga scored 16 points while his brother Eric added seven rendering Joseph Ikong's game high 13 points irrelevant. 1997 champions Charging Rhino recorded the biggest upset of the evening, beating Second Division table leaders Knight Riders 103-98.
THURSDAY RESULTS
KCC Lions 48-46 Miracle
Riders 98-103 Rhino
Power 46-48 Falcons
Lakers 34-50 Mak Sparks
A-1 56-28 Lady Bucks
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