Disclaimer:

I’m not a professional player or coach, and I don’t claim to know what happens behind the scenes — just a writer who studies the game and calls it as I see it.

By Johnson Akilis | Snr Writer | May 29,2025 | 00:45am EAT

Victories are meant to be celebrated — and yes, you deserved to celebrate each win. You earned them. But if we’re being honest, about 80% of the wins in Round One weren’t necessarily thrilling for the team. Some games were predictable victories; others were simply a matter of having more experience and skill. And in a few cases, it felt like the opponents didn’t want the win badly enough. That’s the truth, Even after wins, the post-game talks often focused less on celebration and more on growth — how each player and the team as a whole could perform better. As Coach Sudi has always said:

“Performance is more important than just winning games. If you perform well, results will follow.”

This season began with a mission to build chemistry and create a team that fits like a puzzle. With key signings — the national team point guard and Aziida Lubega from the Lady Canons — the Jaguars quickly transformed into a better team. And with that, the standard shifted: people nolonger equal it to a mediocre team, it’s a better team so they are right to have championship-caliber expectations.

Still, it’s worth appreciating how far we’ve come KUDOS. We’ve lost only one game. Ironically, so has KCCA — who currently top the table. I’ll take that as a positive because somehow, it keeps us hungry and reminds us not to get comfortable.

ABOUT THAT ONE LOSS…

Our only defeat came at the hands of KCCA in a nail biter play leading to a one-point loss that no one saw coming, especially considering our dominant record against them. But if you’ve watched closely, you should know that Our starts matter.

When we begin on a strong note, we usually control the game. Look at our performances against JKL Dolphins, Magic Stormers, and UPDF — strong starts led to commanding wins. But in tighter games — KCCA, UCU, KIU Rangers — our slow starts nearly cost us, and in the case of KCCA, they did. It’s clear: fixing our opening tempo is a priority for Round Two.

REBOUNDING – THE MERCY FACTOR

Last season, Mercy Batamuliza was our rebounding rock, pulling us through in tough moments. This round, she hasn’t quite hit her stride — especially in scoring — but we believe in her. She’s still crucial to our campaign, especially as other teams strengthen their boards. Mercy, if you’re reading this: we need that WNBL rebounding crown to stay with us.

SHOOTERS, TIME TO LET IT FLY

Let’s talk about our three-point game. Despite having a roster stacked with shooters, we’ve averaged only four made threes per game. That’s below par. For Round Two, this has to improve. We need more confidence, more shots, and more conversions from beyond the arc.

Of course, none of this works without the fundamentals: taking care of the ball, reducing turnovers, and playing smart basketball. These are the constants.

It all starts this Sunday, June 1st, against Nkumba Lady Marines at YMCA Wandegeya — tip-off at 12 noon sharp.

Let’s come out fast, play hard, shoot confidently, rebound strong, and above all — perform like champions.