Uganda starts strongly in Dar

By Charles Mutebi in Dar es Salaam

FIBA Africa Zone V Afrobasket Championship

Men: Uganda 80 Tanzania 66

Today

Women: Uganda 50 v Egypt 64

Men: Uganda v Rwanda

Tomorrow

Women: Uganda v Burundi

Men: Uganda v Egypt

FOR Uganda, the 2013 FIBA Africa Zone V Afrobasket Championship promises to be a test in endurance as much as competence.

There is the searing heat and humid Dar es Salaam temperatures, which are something to endure. Uganda’s teams arrived yesterday, just hours before the men took on hosts Tanzania.

However, the Ugandans appered to have been energised by the task ahead of them, humiliating the hosts 80-66 in the opening game.

The Ugandan men have been drawn in what is on paper the group of death – alongside the hosts, defending champions Rwanda and Egypt, the favourites.

Mandy Juruni’s team must get two victories from group A to proceed to the semis, an incredible achievement.

Ladies taste defeat

Uganda made Egypt work for their 64-50 victory in the women’s first game in the FIBA Africa Zone Five Afrobasket Championship.

Martha Soigi and Flavia Oketcho sunk 16 and 11 points respectively as Timothy Odeke’s team exposed the notion that they would be outclassed by Egypt.