Zama star attraction as Gazelles head to Kenya
Rewarded: Nansikombi makes a lay up during the play-off finals against UCU Lady Canons at Lugogo MTN arena. PHOTO BY ISMAIL KEZAALA
What you need to know:
- Basketball. The national men’s side will also face Cameroon and Kenya in a three-team series
Kampala. Kenyan basketball will get a firsthand opportunity to watch Jamila ‘Zama’ Nansikombi when she features for the national basketball women’s team in Nairobi this weekend.
The JKL small forward will be joined by the Gazelles and Silverbacks team that depart today for Nairobi ahead of games against Kenya and Cameroon starting on saturday
Nansikombi has just starred for Kenyan side Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) at the FIBA Africa Basketball Women Championship in Mozambique.
She finished as top scorer averaging 17.1 points while playing 29 minutes and was named on the tournament all-star team despite her team finishing seventh in what was her maiden appearance.
The tournament capped a fine individual year for Nansikombi who averaged 21 points in the final against UCU to guide JKL to a first ever women national basketball league title. She is joined on the Gazelles team by compatriots Flavia Oketcho and Ritah Imanishimwe.
“The games will help us with preparations for future continental tournaments,” stated National Team Committee’s Muhammad Santur who also hopes to organize more training camps for the teams early next year.
Jimmy Enabu and Stephen Omony headline the Silverbacks team that includes two other Oilers teammates; the returning Ben Komakech and James Okello on the 10-man roster
There is also a return for Betway Power’s power forward Geoffrey Soro and Joseph Chuma.
Former UCU centre Demond Owili who is now based in Australia is reportedly funding the friendly matches.
“I felt that Kenyan basketball fans have been starved of international competition for a very long time, in fact over a decade to be precise and felt it would be good if we played the matches at home to entertain our fans. I was happy when Uganda agreed to come to play us at home,” Owili told Daily Nation.
The Teams
Silverbacks: Jimmy Enabu (City Oilers), Joseph Ikong (Betway Power), Mark Okidi Opiyo (Warriors), Syrus Kiviiri (Warriors), Ben Komakech (City Oilers), Stephen Omony (City Oilers), Geoffrey Soro (Betway Power), James Okello (City Oilers), Joseph Chuma (KIU Titans) and Stanley Mugerwa (Warriors).
The Gazelles: Flavia Oketcho (JKL), Sylvia Nakazibwe (KCCA), Rita Imanishimwe (JKL), Ekon Brenda (Nkumba), Judith Nansobya (KCCA), Jamila Nansikombi (JKL), Zainah Lokwameri (UCU), Sarah Ageno (UCU), Hope Akello (JKL) and Martha Soigi (KCCA).
