Zone V: Only title will do for imports

KAMPALA- Side by side, the Silverbacks and Gazelles got through their drills on Friday night at the Lugogo MTN Arena. The two national teams – men and ladies – split the court in half.

Though sharing a court is far from ideal, each used half the court, it’s all they had. “We have worked within the means and are ready,” the two men in charge of making the tough said, almost in unison.
Coaches Mandy Juruni (men) and Timothy Odeke (ladies) made the most of the one hour hours, one they haven’t had for the past week.

A badminton clinic kept the venue busy. When they return to the arena today, it will be real business and all excuses will be invalid as the Fiba Africa Zone V Nations Basketball Championship tips off.

“We want to go all the way. The target is winning it,” shooting guard John Baligwire tells Sunday Monitor as teammates dipped into ice to fend off niggles.

Currently a free agent living in the USA, Baligwire is one of the four foreign-based players called up to the side in a bid to bolster Uganda’s chances of performing at a stage they have always failed.

It’s an ambition that seems farfetched as Uganda is not among the favourites.

Defending champions Egypt will be the team to beat whereas Rwanda, Somalia and Kenya will fancy their chances too.
Uganda, men’s champions in 2005, has had to wait three months as the tournament was postponed from June.

However, this is the most organized the national team has been.
“The mindset is the same as three months ago. We have all been training, no one was resting” adds Swedish-based Kassim Nangwere.
“First of all, it’s a privilege to represent your country. Then secondly, I cannot come from Europe if I am not here to win.”

Guards Josh Johnson and Samuel Mukooza are the other two though Juruni is without centre Brandon Ssebirumbi who came here in June but couldn’t make it due to commitments at his club. Samuel Kalwanyi, Ivan Rumanyika and Andrew Opiyo will clog that gap alongside Henry Malinga as small forward Stephen Omony leads the side hoping to make amends and break barriers.

“The home court advantage should help with all the support we will get,” Baligwire says. “I have watched Egypt play at the world championships but not much about the rest.”
Nangwere doesn’t know the opposition that much. “We have to play in the way we know how. I have worked with this and think we can do great.”

Ladies’ captain Vicky Ntale is as optimistic as his coach Odeke in believing that this could Uganda’s best chance to qualify for the Afrobasket Championships.

By press time, Egypt, Rwanda and Somalia were due in the country on Friday while Burundi and Kenya had been expected to arrive yesterday. Thereafter, the draws were to be conducted.

FIBA AFRICA ZONE V CLUB CHAMPIONSIP
FINAL TEAM - GAZELLES
Flavia Oketcho, Sylvia Nakazibwe, Muhaimina Namuwaya, Vicky Ntale (captain), Lynn Nalunkuma, Claire Lamunnu, Meme Rukia, Peace Proscovia, Becky Akullo, Sharon Karungi, Carol Nywafwono, Monica Siima
COACH: Timothy Odeke
Assistant coach: Nimrod Kaboha

FINAL TEAM - SILVERBACKS
Henry Malinga, Ivan Rumanyika, Samuel Kalwanyi, Andrew Opiyo, Stephen Omony, Norman Blick, Jimmy Enabu, Ben Komakech, Josh Johnson, Samuel Mukooza Kassim Nagwere, John Balwigaire
COACH: Mandy Juruni
Assistant coach: Gad Eteu

CONFIRMED TEAMS
MEN
Egypt, Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia (pending), Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda
WOMEN
Egypt, Kenya, Ethiopia (pending), Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda (pending)

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