Local basketball governing body, FUBA has withdrawn the Uganda women’s national basketball team, Gazelles from the upcoming women’s Zone V Afrobasket qualifiers due to financial constraints.
“This decision has been reached at after failing to get the much needed financial support from government,” FUBA said in a statement signed by its President, Nasser Sserunjogi.
The women’s Zone V Afrobasket qualifiers will take place between 12th -17th July 2021 in Kigali, Rwanda and FUBA reportedly needed UGX220m to fund the trip.
Over a week ago, FUBA summoned 12 players for a training camp ahead of the Kigali trip but the new measures imposed by government to curb the current surge in Covid-19 infections and deaths became a damper to all plans. This coupled with financial constraints derailed the team’s participation at the event.
With Uganda out, the Kigali Zone V event will now be played by hosts Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, South Sudan and Burundi.
The winners from Kigali will represent the Zone V region at the event proper, the women’s FIBA Afrobasket Championship slated for September in Cameroon.
