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Uganda Silverbacks depart for AfroBasketball event in Tunisia

Xinhua, August 17, 2015 Adjust font size:

Uganda's men's team departed on Sunday evening for the 2015 AfroBasketball Championship scheduled to be played in the Tunisian town of Nabeul from August 19-30.

The team skippered by veteran Steven Omony qualified for the event last year during the regional Zone 5 Championship.

"We are not going for a holiday but to play serious basketball because all the top playing nations in Africa like Angola and Tunisia are taking part in the Championship," said Omony. The captain said although they do not have lots of experience like other teams, they will have to play as a team in-order to get results.

Head coach of Uganda Silverbacks, Mande Juruni said his team is ready for the event. "Although we have only trained for a few week, the response has been positive and the few build-up matches we have had have helped us correct a few things," a confident Juruni told Xinhua before departure.

American born Bradon Alan Ssebirumbi who has never featured for his country is among the players who have made the team. Ssebirumbi who last played for Caceres Ciudade del Baloncesto in Spain's LEB Oro League said he is happy to join the team. "I will make sure I work hard for the national team that I will be playing for this first time," he added.

The other professional players on the team include John David Balwigaire (US), Joshua Eric Johnson (England), Kassim Nagwere (Sweden) and Stanley Ochaya Ocitti (US).

Uganda is drawn against hosts Tunisia, Nigeria and the Central African Republic. According to the fixture released by FIBA Africa central Board Uganda will tip off against hosts Tunisia on the August 19 at the El Menzah Sport Palace.

Besides title holders Angola, hosts Tunisia and Uganda, the other nations that will take part in the championship include Egypt, Cote d'Ivoire, Cameroon, Mali, Morocco, Nigeria, Mozambique, Gabon, Zimbabwe, Algeria, Senegal, Central African Republic and Cape Verde.

Uganda's squad

John David Balwigaire, Jimmy Abraham Enabu, Joseph Ikong, Joshua Eric Johnson, Samuel Kalwanyi, Henry Malinga Labong, Samuel Mukooza, Kassim Nagwere, Stanley Ochaya Ocitti, Steven Omony, Brandon Alan Ssebirumbi, Dhal Marial. Endi