A new chapter in Ugandan basketball will be written this Friday at Lugogo Indoor Arena as Namuwongo Blazers, boasting a fresh but familiar core, go head to head with defending champions City Oilers in the 2025 National Basketball League (NBL) season opener.
At the center of this high stakes showdown is the newly assembled Blazers trio; Jimmy Enabu, Tonny Drilleba, and James Okello who spent years as the backbone of City Oilers’ dominance. Now, they return as adversaries, ready to dismantle the dynasty they helped build.
Few players have been as synonymous with City Oilers’ success as Enabu, Drilleba, and Okello. Between them, they amassed multiple league titles, with Enabu hoisting nine championships, Okello rising from the lower division to become a key pillar, and Drilleba cementing his reputation as one of the league’s best.
However, their high profile departure in May 2024, following a reported fallout with Oilers’ management, sent shockwaves through the basketball fraternity.
Now wearing Nam Blazers’ colors, the trio is eager to make a statement against their former side, proving that they still have what it takes to dominate the league.
For Drilleba, the battle carries added intrigue. While still with City Oilers, he once taunted the Blazers, insisting they had to beat Oilers in a seven-game series before they could talk.
Now, fate has flipped the script, Drilleba is leading the charge for the very team he once dismissed, seeking to silence the reigning champions in a single night.
The Nam Blazers have not just stopped at Enabu, Drilleba, and Okello. They have aggressively strengthened their squad, adding former KIU Titans duo Joel Lukoji and Peter Obleng, along with Henry Ssebagala and Moses Mugisha from Our Saviour. The goal is clear, end City Oilers’ decade long reign and claim their first-ever NBL title.
However, in a setback for the Blazers, captain Paul ‘McGyver’ Odong will miss the season opener due to work commitments. His absence could leave a leadership void, but with the experience of the ‘big three,’ Namuwongo remains a formidable force.
Despite losing their long time stars, City Oilers remain an elite powerhouse. They adapted swiftly to the exits of Enabu, Okello, and Drilleba, finishing last season strong and securing a record-extending 10th straight championship.
This season, they have bolstered their squad with fresh talent, including former Blazers center Joseph Chuma, alongside Bolton Rujjumba, Edgar Munaaba, and Emmanuel Okumu. With their core of Fayed Baale, Ivan Muhwezi, and veteran Ben Komakech still intact, the Oilers remain a serious contender for an 11th consecutive title.
This matchup carries all the elements of a classic rivalry, history, high emotions, and championship aspirations.
For Enabu, Drilleba, and Okello, it’s a chance to prove they are more than just former Oilers stars. For City Oilers, it’s about reaffirming their dominance and showing that no player is bigger than the system.
Friday March 21
- City Oilers Vs Nam Blazers- 9PM | Lugogo Indoor Arena
