The second leg of Friday Night Lights (FNL) Season 9 that happened last Friday was electric as the organizers had promised. The venue set-up at the Lugogo Hockey Grounds was probably the best witnessed in Uganda sports and many revelers confessed as much.
Right from the entrance the high-impact walk-in tunnel and photo wall – which the fans later turned into their own court made a statement for fans to reset their expectations of what Basketball in Uganda could look and feel like.
Upon entry, the Castle Lite branding, lighting, audiovisuals (AV), sound, and fireworks were of a quality and glitz only seen at concerts and festivals. Without a doubt, the event team at Qi Sports Management and its production partners at ATS had established a new benchmark. And true to its tradition of mashing up basketball with showbiz, the stars came out for FNL in force.
It was however not only the game that got people excited, but the performances from two artistes. Crysto Panda and Big Tril.
Crysto Panda led Team Iman onto the court to the tunes of his hit ‘Empele’; grabbing the mic from the evening host and without dropping a beat declaring, ‘Owakaabi mu’ bakaabi, Panda ntusseeee…” The crowd did not disappoint, responding in unison “…fumiita fumiita embozzi…” Iman’s opponent, Team Afande more than matched their entrance with perhaps the most memorable walkout in local sports, where captain Henry Okoth, a serving UPDF officer led his troops out in an amazing light and pyrotechnics, flanked by bodyguards in full combat uniform.
The icing on the cake was the rare presence of Big Tril. Escorting the Team Afande, Big Tril got the fans on their feet with his hit ‘My Guy’, a collaboration with Fik Fameica. It was fantastic to see him back up Crysto Panda on the mic and then play against him afterward in the true spirit of FNL. A fan was soon overheard commenting, “That guy (Big Tril) is a hooper!”
On the court, it was dribbles, shimmies, and dunks keeping fans on their toes. In the 1st Leg on December 8, Team Melo beat Team Soro and Team Ekon saw off Team Drileba in Pool A. In Pool B, Team Iman overcame Team Wazee while Team Afande beat Team Comfort.
The semifinals pit Ekon against Melo (Pool A) and the other will see Iman taking on Afande (Pool B). Both the semis and final will be played on the same day.
According to Tom Ocamringa, the event’s Team Leader. “At FNL, whoever participates is a winner because it is all about fun, engagement, and interaction between league players, entertainers, and their fans,” he said. With the last full season of the event having taken place in 2019, Ocamringa was positive that the energy was picking up again.
The grand finale of FNL Season 9 is scheduled for Friday 5th January, pending confirmation.
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