What can the Uganda Silverbacks expect from newcomers Kieran Zziwa, Arthur Kaluma, and Mohammed Abdihakim ahead of next week’s AfroBasket qualifier against Morocco?

Judging by the scouting report and the little glimpses of Kaluma during February’s training camp in Cairo, a lot. But a more balanced view may be more cautious given the limited amount of time the three will have to be embedded into the team.

Kaluma was part of the team ahead of February’s ill-fated qualifiers in Tunisia, during which all three of the Silverbacks games were postponed because of an outbreak of COVID-19 in the Ugandan camp. 

So, Kaluma is like Zziwa and Abdihakim in being uncapped for the Silverbacks.

Still, George Galanopolous is positive about the three players and the Silverbacks tactician can be trusted in his optimism they will easily settle in.

“I’m very excited to be working with everybody on our team,” said Galanopolous. “The new guys we have are very talented and very good people who are going to fit in well with us.”

Uganda beat Morocco 94-90 in the first leg meeting in November 2020 and will qualify for AfroBasket 2021 if they complete the previously unimaginable double over the North Africans on Thursday week.

Players: Jimmy Enabu, James Okello, Tonny Drileba, Ben Komakech, Titus Odeke Lual, Robinson Opong, John Deng Geu, Ishmail Wainwright, Eric Rwahire, Arthur Kaluma, Mohamed Ghedi Abdihakim & Keiran Zziwa.

Coaches: George Galanopolous, Mandy Juruni, Michael Schmitz, Andrew Tendo Senyondwa.