Silverbacks (Uganda men’s national basketball team) are currently in Cairo, Egypt for a four-day training camp ahead of their Afrobasket qualifier match with Morocco slated for 8th July in Rabat.
The local based players who reached Cairo on Wednesday morning finally teamed up with foreign based players and all the coaches. The team will be having two training sessions per day, that is in the morning and evening.
According to FUBA President, Nasser Sserunjogi, the team will be traveling to Rabat on Saturday, 3rd July where they will continue preparing for their game (against Morocco).
“We pray everything goes on as planned. So far so good,” Sserunjogi who is part of the contingent said adding that; “the team is in good spirit and we pray and hope that we put up a good performance for us to qualify for the finals of Afrobasket.”
Guard Ishmail Wainright who plays for French professional outfit SIG Strasbourg is the only person not in camp but will be available for the Morocco game.
“Ishmail Wainright had just concluded his basketball season in France and he requested a few days off to visit his family before he joins the entire team. He will be joining us on 5th July direct in Morocco,” Sserunjogi added.
If Silverbacks win against Morocco, they will automatically qualify for the Afrobasket finals, but if not they will have to play Cape Verde on 15th July and if triumphant they will qualify for the said finals.
However, if Silverbacks lose all their Group E games, it will then go down to goal difference with Morocco needing a +8 win over Uganda while Cape Verde need a +6 win to come atop Uganda. Egypt is already qualified for the finals but the top three teams from each group and a wildcard will form the 16 teams that will qualify for Afrobasket finals.
The event proper, FIBA AfroBasket is scheduled to be held in Kigali, Rwanda from August 24 to September 5 2021.
Silverbacks Afrobasket Qualifiers Team:
Jimmy Enabu (City Oilers), James Okello (City Oilers), Tonny Drileba (City Oilers), Benjamin Komakech (City Oilers), Titus Odeke (UCU Canons), Ronson Odoch Opong (Canada), Eric Rwahwire (Canada), Keiran Zziwa (Canada), Ghedi Muhamed (USA), Geu Dengeu John (Denmark), Ishmail Wainright (France) and Arthur Kaluma (USA).
Coaches:
George Galanopoulos, Mandy Juruni, Michael Schmitz and Andrew Tendo Senyondwa.
