Sebirumbi and Mukooza in line for Silverbacks return

Jan 29, 2018

Sebirumbi was tied down by club commitments during last year’s Afrobasket.

2019 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers

Uganda schedule

Training (Kampala): Jan 29 - Feb 15

Training camp (Bamako): Feb 16 - 22

Group B qualifiers

First round: Feb 23 - 25 (Bamako, Mali)

Uganda fixtures

23 Feb v Rwanda

24 Feb v Mali

25 Feb v Rwanda

Uganda Silverbacks squad

Foreign contingent: S. Ociti, R. Opong, B. Sebirumbi & S. Mukooza

Local contingent: S. Omony, J. Enabu, J. Ikong, C. Kiviri, J. Okello, J. Otim, S. Mugerwa, J. Egau, M. Opio, G. Soro, T. Drileba, D. Isiko & H. Okoth

Coaches: M. Juruni, B. Wathum & N. Natuhereza

Brandon Sebirumbi and Stanley Mukooza are returning. A'Darius Pegues did not impress enough to secure his much-desired recall.

In terms of the takeaways from the Uganda Silverbacks trial-squad selected ahead of next month's FIBA World Cup qualifiers in Bamako, Mali, the scenarios of Sebirumbi, Mukooza and Pegues' are most arresting.

There are others, of course, such as the exclusion of long-term Silverback Ben Komakech and the maiden call-ups of youngsters Tony Drileba, Derrick Isiko and Henry Okoth.

But as the latter three are not likely to make the final cut, it is the exclusion of Pegues, who was more than eager to play in this World Cup campaign after taking part in Uganda's 2017 Afrobasket campaign in Senegal, that really catches the eye.

"This time A'Darius is not coming back," Silverbacks head coach Mandy Juruni told New Vision Sports. "We're calling back Sebirumbi. He's available for participation."

Sebirumbi was tied down by club commitments during last year's Afrobasket and his direct replacement Pegues averaged 12.3 points and 6.3 boards in Uganda's three games, which was far from poor but not good enough to help him retain his spot.

As both Sebirumbi and Pegues are considered naturalised players, the Silverbacks can only pick one, and they've decided to go with the former. Sebirumbi was part of the historic 2015 Afrobasket team and averaged 8.6 points and 7.8 rebounds. However, Sebirumbi is said to have been nursing a knee injury at the time that restricted him.

As for Mukooza, the silky guard missed last year's Afrobasket for personal reasons but Juruni says he's in the right frame of mind to make an impact this time.

"He's okay, he's a very disciplined player," Juruni said of the Sweden-based Mukooza.

 

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