National Basketball League side Namuwongo Blazers confirmed their withdrawal from the 2023 campaign on Tuesday, in a shocking announcement.
This came in the wake of the decision by the Federation of Uganda Basketball Association (FUBA) to announce that the champions of the current season will not represent the country in the next Basketball Africa League (BAL).
The victors for this season were initially set to represent Uganda at the continental showpiece but the favor has been extended to the champion of the next campaign.
BREAKING NEWS! pic.twitter.com/siFIABtpLq
— Namuwongo Blazers (@Namblazers) August 29, 2023
“We have invested a lot of time and financial resources, with our key selling point to our Sponsors in the year 2023 being the opportunity to be considered to represent the country at next year’s BAL if we are crowned 2023 champions,” Nam Blazers asserted.
“However, such an abrupt decision sends a wrong signal to not only our current sponsors but also to any other corporate companies that may be considering sponsoring clubs in the NBL with a similar intent to have their brands visible at BAL tournaments across the continent.”
Besides sponsors, the African competition presents teams with the only chance for revenue and thus, teams play in the season with targets of making it there.
“Unlike the Federation that receives funding from the Government on an annual basis through the National Council of Sports, annual subscription fees from all participating clubs and 100% of the gate collections collected on match day, clubs, on the other hand, are expected to source for their funding without any support from the Federation,” a Nam Blazers’ statement stressed.
Clubs inject millions only to receive close to five million shillings as prize money from the Federation after a full regular season and playoffs action.
2024 NBL season to start earlier
The Federation also adjusted the calendar, asserting that registration for next season will end in November this year as the new season itself commences in January 2024, instead of the usual March, a thing Nam Blazers contested.
“With the current season (the playoffs) expected to be completed mid to late October, the tight timelines for preparations for the proposed commencement of the 2024 NBL season in January 2024 is onerous to us as a club.”
“We have a window of only one month to register players by November 2023 and raise the necessary funding at short notice before the new league commences.”
“As a league that is expected to be run professionally, clubs should be given ample time to prepare for any new season.”
It’s on record that many clubs in the league struggle with basics like paying FUBA registration fees, providing drinking water for players during games, and so on,” they added, in more justification.
“It is, therefore, surprising that the Federation, which is well aware of these challenges, makes such an abrupt and irrational decision,” irritated and frustrated, the club summed.
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