Uganda battles Kenya in U-18 basketball qualifiers

Uganda's quest to play at the continental level continues on Saturday when they host the U-18 Zone V qualifiers at the MTN Arena.

The Ugandan boys and girls teams now have only to negotiate their way past their Kenya counterparts for the single slot, after the other countries in the zone failed to confirm their participation in the qualifiers.

The winner will represent the East and Central African region-Zone V in the Africa U18 Championship to take place in Kigali, Rwanda (boys), on July 27 and Cairo, Egypt (girls) in August.

The Kenyan boys and girls teams are expected to arrive on Friday to take on Coach Nick Natuhereza's teams which he believes are ready for the challenge.

"We have not had much time to train as a group because most of the players have been at school but we don't want to dwell much on that but what I know is I have teams of talented individuals who are ready to play," Natuhereza told the press at Lugogo, Friday.

"Our target is to have all our teams participating in Africa competitions because we have shown that we love the game more than anyone else in the region," FUBA Marketing and Publicity Vice President Ivan Ntabazi said.

The FIBA Africa U18 Championship will be returning to Rwanda six years after it was last held there in 2010.Twelve teams will battle for the African championship in both Rwanda and Egypt, hosting the championship for the first time.

Uganda Girls' team: Agnes Hope Akello, Evelyn Nakiyingi, Hanisha Nambasa, Maimuna Nabossa, Hajara Najjuko, Brenda Ayere, Rita Druciru, Patience Akakunda, Joan Namatovu, Aliya Naluyima, Anita Wataka, Nadia Nagginda.

Boys' team: Patrick Bamutende, Elvis Ssentongo, Joseph Dramaza, Henry Okoth, Gideon Kasasa, Umar Inanda, Arion Osama, Vincent Yiki, Mathew Ochieng, Ivan Muhwezi, Mark Tamale, Trevor Wandera.