In a significant transition for the City Oilers Basketball Club, three stalwart captains—Jimmy Enabu, James Okello, and Tonny Drileba— announced their exit after years of dedicated service to the club.
Speaking to NBS Sport on this development, City Oilers General Manager Grace Kwizera highlighted the club’s policy of allowing players to explore better opportunities for growth and exposure when presented with offers surpassing the club’s offerings.
It is reported that the trio of Enabu, Okello, and Drileba will pursue their careers in Burundi and Congo, attracted by the allure of better payment terms, growth opportunities, and market exposure.
Kwizera acknowledged the unexpected nature of the simultaneous departure of the three esteemed captains, emphasizing that while it wasn’t part of the club’s strategic plan, the closure of the second-round registration window necessitates swift adjustments to address the void left by their absence.
“It’s not a plan we had as a club for the three captains to exit at once but sadly we have to deal with it because the window for second round registration is closed and this leaves us struggling to cover up the gap of all the three players,” Kwizera stated.
The departure of Enabu, Okello, and Drileba presents a formidable challenge for the Oilers as they now face the daunting task of making adjustments to fill the void left by the departure of these legendary players.
The Oilers are fourth in the National Basketball League standings with 27 points, 6 behind leaders Namblazers but with 4 games in hand due to their participation at the BAL Nile Conference.
