Mid-season signings, Jamila ‘Zama’ Nansikombi and Leonel Nyemeck made their season debuts on Martyrs day, 3rd June, for the Pearl Queens and the Namuwongo Blazers at Hamz Stadium, Nakivubo.

Gazelles star, Zama, was added to the Pearl Queens during the mid-season transfer window and many wanted to see how she would fit in the team. However, she came into the country after many games had been played.

For this game, she arrived when the team was already warming up and some thought that perhaps she might not feature. However, after a couple of minutes, she was fully kitted up and ready to go.

In the first minutes, she did not attempt much and was trying to facilitate. The downside to this was that it was a though she wasn’t on the same page with others. Most of her passes were not received and it resulted into turnovers. Zama had 6 turnovers in this game.

However, in the second half, she managed to score all her first 4 field goal attempts and a total of 9 points. She finished the game with 19 minutes played.

Zama is a part of the Gazelles team that will play at the Commonwealth games in Glasgow and the FIBA 3×3 Women’s series. It is very likely that she will be away for the playoffs as the 3×3 events shall be taking place.

Pearl Queens managed to win the game 48-41 and put themselves in a position where they can finish as the number 6 seed. They face the JKL Dolphins in their final game of the season.

Cameroonian Leonel Nyemeck also made his debut for the Namuwongo Blazers as they defeated the Victoria Crocs 74-38. He played 23 minutes and registered 13 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists.

It is very difficult to assess his impact and how he will fit in the team because the Blazers made multiple changes in the way they approached the game.

Namuwongo Blazers face the Kampala Rockets and UCU Canons in their final games of the season and this will be an opportunity to see more of Leonel Nyemeck in action. The Blazers can finish as the number 1 seed if they win both their games.