Enabu faces axe from Zone V team

By Charles Mutebi 

FIBA Africa Zone V 

January 21-26, Dar 

HE was the MVP of the 2005 FIBA Africa Zone Five national championships, which remains the only one Uganda has won. 

Yet Ivan Enabu is set to be axed from Uganda’s team for the 2013 edition of the tournament due January 21-26 in Tanzania. Head coach Mandy Juruni is unhappy with Enabu for withdrawing from the team last Saturday, citing work commitments, before making a U-turn and returning for Monday’s training. 

Juruni is convinced Enabu pulled out due to frustrations over his limited role in the training sessions, which ultimately hinted at a limited role in the tournament or in fact total exclusion from the final 12-man team. The coach does not believe Enabu’s explanation that he had been forced to pull out due to work hindrances. 

Enabu told New Vision Sports: “I had withdrawn because there was a work project that was going to run through the tournament but the good thing is that it has been pushed to the 28th (January).” 

Enabu, one of the most popular players in local hoops with his distinct running-and-gunning style, admitted that Juruni has not yet accepted his explanation but “discussions are going on”. 

Unfortunately, Juruni appears to have made up his mind to drop the player whom he has coached at the Kyambogo Warriors for the last two seasons and with whom he celebrated the 2012 FUBA men’s top-flight championship. 

“What he did by pulling out of the team was wrong,” Juruni explained. “He doesn’t have a chance to make the final team. If he had work commitments he would have told me earlier so I don’t believe his explanation.”