Namake likely to miss UCU’s Zone V trip

Namake (R) is proving unplayable with the UCU small forward averaging 18 points.

What you need to know:

  • Natuhereza recently left out Namake, Dickson Asiko, Juach Nyong and Brian Kasumba after the quartet arrived late for the 63-50 loss to Startimes Falcons.
  • Oilers and women’s side KCCA Leopards are also travelling to Tanzania.

Kampala. UCU Canons will make their first appearance at the Fiba Africa Zone V Club Championship in six years with Brian Namake likely to miss out from the travelling 12.
The Kenyan small forward, a tough lock-down defender who is also often used as a ball handling option, is competing for a slot in the squad for the trip to Dar-es-Salaam. Tanzanian power forward Fadhil Chuma is also in the frame.

Every team is allowed not more than two players with foreign passports. UCU coach Nicholas Natuhereza has already included South Sudanese shooting guard Steven Wundi. “Down to 13 players,” Natuhereza told Daily Monitor after Friday’s 72-66 National Basketball League loss to Power at the Lugogo, their last game before travelling to Tanzania. Namake, among the key leaders of the side, that got UCU to a first national final last year, losing to City Oilers in seven games, has been on the brink lately.

Natuhereza recently left out Namake, Dickson Asiko, Juach Nyong and Brian Kasumba after the quartet arrived late for the 63-50 loss to Startimes Falcons. “I could leave out players for any game as long as they don’t do what is expected of them,” the coach reaffirmed his stance on discipline.
After the late-coming incident, Namake was dropped for the next three before a recall on Friday. The coach, who will also tutor UCU Lady Canons in Dar, will hope for better after their late collapse against Power. “The game there is so different,” Natuhereza, who played without a point guard and left Wundi on the floor for the entire game, said. Oilers and women’s side KCCA Leopards are also travelling to Tanzania.