Juruni decides on Silverbacks composition ahead of qualifiers
More games. The new format presents teams with an opportunity to play more games.
Kampala. Up to seven slots are up for grabs for the national basketball team Silverbacks ahead of the Fiba World Cup qualifiers due in Mali 23-25 later this month.
Coach Mandy Juruni revealed as much after the Silverbacks played a warm up game against a select league side at the Lugogo MTN Arena.
“We are looking at how they can play as a unit but most of the time they did not,” Juruni stated after the game that Silverbacks lost 69-67.
Juruni also the City Oilers coach revealed guard Brian Mukasa and A’darius Pegues had not been registered for the initial round of the qualifiers with the latter set to be replaced by Japan based Brandon Sebirumbi.
The centre returns having featured for the Silverbacks at the 2015 Afrobasket but missed out on last on last year’s edition.
Mukasa was meanwhile expected to boost the back court that should now comprise Robinson Odoch Opong and City Oilers’ Jimmy Enabu.
Odoch averaged a joint third highest tournament tally of 15.3 points at the 2017 Afrobasket.
He will be joined by Josh Johnson and Samuel Mukoza with the last two also returning from the 2015 Afrobasket edition in addition to forward Stanley Ocitti. That will leave seven slots for the domestic league players who largely failed to impress save for Warriros’ Stanley Mugerwa.
Local based players
Jimmy Enabu (City Oilers), Stephen Omony (City Oilers), Joseph Ikong (Power), Syrus Kiviiri (Warriors), James Okello (City Oilers), Jonah Otim (City Oilers), Tony Drileba (City Oilers), Stanley Mugerwa (Warriors), Mike Madol (UCU Canons), Derrick Isiko (UCU Canons), Jonathan Egau (UCU Canons), Mark Opio (Warriors).
