Reports show that since the game seven buzzer on October 15, 2022, Zinda has been elusive and left players and coaches with more questions than answers.

National Basketball League losing finalists Namuwongo Blazers have parted ways with long serving CEO Farouk Zinda.

This was revealed in a press statement released by team manager Grace Buwooza on Friday morning.

“The management of Namuwongo Blazers wishes to announce that the long-term serving CEO Hajji Zinda Farouk will step down from his position at the club effective today,” the statement signed off by Buwooza, read.

“The Namuwongo Blazers family and basketball fraternity is indebted to Hajji Zinda Farouk for the selflessness leadership that he has manifested during his tenure as CEO of Namuwongo Blazers Basketball Club.”

“he will always be remembered for his achievement during his tenure as the CEO of Namuwongo Blazers.”

Cleaning house

the Blazers came close to winning the championship last season and only fell short by two points.

City Oilers faced their toughest test in eight seasons but had just enough to win the seven-game series 4-3 in front of a fully-to-capacity Lugogo Indoor Stadium.

Credit will go to the Blazers' management for assembling a team good enough to challenge the status quo.

Zinda was at the front of all the business and recruited players with the intention of immediate success rather than building a team for the future.

Reports show that since the game seven buzzer on October 15, 2022, Zinda has been elusive and left players and coaches with more questions than answers.

Unpaid salaries and broken promises left players in a spot of bother and some have since come out to show their dissatisfaction with the team management.

At the moment, players like Ariel Okall, Saidi Amisi, David Deng, Keneddy Wachira, Peter Obleng and Collins Kasujja are some of the confirmed exits. Daniel Juuko retired while Joseph Ikong left the country.

It will now take a massive rebuild for the Blazers to return to the level they were at last season.

While the team won hearts of many basketball enthusiasts, that is not enough to keep players and many are expected to move on.

Big moves

Identity is one of the biggest pullers of numbers in sport and the blazers look like they have come to realise that.

There were many basketball fans from the areas of Namuwongo following the team last season and the team can reap from that.

While Zinda is leaving the team, several opinion leaders have been approached by the club to lend a helping hand.

The club has paid courtesy calls to chief justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo and philanthropist Dr Ian Clarke to interest the two in the Blazers movement.

And indeed, it will take big moves to have Blazers scale the heights of last season.