The Uganda senior men’s national basketball team, Silverbacks have on Thursday morning left for Benguela, Angola to take part in the first window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qualifiers for the Africa Region scheduled to tip off on 26th November 2021.
The team boarded SA LINK flight through Johannesburg, Luanda and finally connect to Benguela.
The team leaves for the global qualifiers just days after FUBA said that the side had pulled out of the competition due to financial constraints. However, a last minute intervention saw the team finally depart for the games.
“The Federation of Uganda Basketball Associations (FUBA) would like to appreciate the government of Uganda through the sports ministry for the timely financial support to enable the team to compete in this window,” FUBA said in a missive after the team’s departure.
The Silverbacks finished 6th at the recently concluded Afrobasket (the biggest basketball competition on the continent) and they will be looking on building up on that performance when they suit up in Angola.
Uganda is drawn in the same qualifying pool with Mali, Nigeria and Cape Verde and the goal is to secure qualification to the final showpiece in 2023.
The 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup qualification for the FIBA Africa region, begins in November 2021 and will conclude in February 2023. The process will determine the five African teams that will participate at the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
Uganda’s Team.
1. Jimmy Abraham Enabu
1.Arnold Katabi (Head of Delegation)
2. Tony Drileba
2. Lutwama Mandy Juruni (Head coach)
3. Ivan Muhwezi
3. Senyondwa Andrew Tendo (Asst Coach)
4. Fayed Bbale
4. Nyakana Ram Mpuga (Team Physio)
5. Peter Obleng
5. Otuk Isaac Gabriel (Team Doctor)
6. Titus Lual Odeke
7. James Okello
8. AbdiHakim Ghedi
9. Benjamin Komakech
10. Davies Brandon Jameel
11. Eric Rwahwire
12. Womala Emmanuel Timothy
13. Robinson Opong Odoch.
