‘City Bulls’ target Oilers scalp

Dar es Salaam. For basketball fans, the Spiders ground is a place to be on Saturday as it hosts an encounter between Vijana and Oilers.

The two teams, which command huge following the city, will face off in the opening match of the RBA Super Cup League match, according to the fixtures released by Basketball Dar es Salaam (BD) yesterday.

The eagerly awaited showdown will be followed by another interest-generating match between defending champions Savio and Pazi at the same court.

Other teams expected to battle it out for the title in the league, which featurs six top outfits in the Dar es Salaam Regional Basketball Association (RBA) League, include Tanzania Prisons.

Tanzania Prisons will launch their Super Cup campaign on Sunday against title-holders Savio, according to the BD spokesman, Peter Mpangala.

In an interview with The Citizen yesterday, Mpangala said JKT will also compete in the league.

When contacted for comment on the fixtures, Vijana head coach Kabiola Shomari predicted a tough encounter against Oilers, but remained optimistic that it will produce positive results for his team.

He said Oilers, like his team, boast a number of highly skilled players, a situation he said might bring stiff opposition to his boys.

“We are well prepared for the match. We know that our opponents have vast experience in the league, but this will not stop us from launching our campaign with a bang,” he said confidently.

His Oilers counterpart Nichoraus Leonard said his charges will do the basics of the game to win in the billed to be a nail-biting match.

“We have worked hard to get where we are right now and I believe the lads will execute when they face Vijana,” he said

Players to watch during the game include Oilers’ Erick Lugala, Evance Davids, Shaffi Songora and Hussein Iddi.

Davids said yesterday that other outfits in the league are aware of his team’s prowess.

Pazi head coach Mohamed Mbwana said he was happy with the way his players are responding to his instructions during their training sessions.

Teams lined up for the Super Cup League are busy, fine-tuning ahead of the six-team league.

Organisers have set aside various awards for winners, including trophies and cash prizes, according to Mpangala. He said preparations for the league were on course.