Oilers’ Enabu not lacking motivation
Jimmy Enabu
Kampala- Three National Basketball League titles in as many years and a Fiba Africa Zone V Club Championship title should let City Oilers take their foot off the pedal.
Their next challenge is certainly leaving a mark at December’s Africa Club Champions’ Cup and you would hardly blame them. There is a bit of complacency in every one of us.
Not Jimmy Enabu though, at least for now. “When you walk on to the court, you don’t have past achievements in mind. You just want to win that game,” the shooting guard told Daily Monitor.
Enabu almost bottled it as Oilers prevailed 74-68 against UCU Canons in overtime at the Lugogo MTN Arena on Friday to finish as top seed heading into the playoffs. Just like the first round game when Oilers escaped with a 73-72 result against UCU, talisman Kami Kabange led the way with 22 points and 14 rebounds to hold off the students.
Kabange, the 2013 league Most Valuable Player (MVP), was challenged by Fadhil Chuma who set the tone with a game-high 22 points and 16 rebounds.
Consequently, Oilers finished with a 19-3 record, matched by KIU Titans. The latter finished the regular season on 19-match winning streak but failed to usurp Oilers. Oilers boast a superior head-to-head record. “Personally, I don’t need motivation. I hate losing,” Enabu, 16 points, five rebounds and four assists on Friday, explained.
Falcons have done a treble before, 2001-2003, but victory in the playoffs that start this Friday will put Oilers in a class of their own as no team has won four successive titles.
Thereafter, Enabu hopes Oilers become regulars at the continental high table which implies attempting to win the Zone V again in subsequent years.
“Playing there (at the Afrobasket) for Uganda was a first step. Now, we need to try and qualify for the same with Oilers again. A one-off appearance is not what we want,” said Zone V MVP.
