Zone V basketball rolls off at Lugogo
It’s cliche but this is truly the moment Ugandan basketball has been waiting for. Even more so coming in the middle of a season that has been marred by embarrassing battles over the MTN Arena and a league campaign watered down by the rain.
By Charles Mutebi
FIBA Afrobasket Zone V Championship Starts Sunday
Venue: Lugogo
It’s cliche but this is truly the moment Ugandan basketball has been waiting for. Even more so coming in the middle of a season that has been marred by embarrassing battles over the MTN Arena and a league campaign watered down by the rain.
How ironical then that the same controversial MTN Arena will host the finest quest in the modern era of Ugandan basketball. Uganda are seeking not one but two top finishes in the FIBA Afrobasket Zone V Championship, which tip offs on Sunday.
The fixtures had not been made by press time but both the Uganda Gazelles and Silverbacks are expected to be ready for anything. Not that recent history has many positives.
The Ugandan women finished third at last year’s edition, their best performance ever while the men finished third-last.
The men won the 2005 edition, also held here, but that was not a qualifier for either the Afrobasket or Olympics like this one.
Afrobasket is the African championship and the Zone V finalists will qualify for the continental showpiece that will be held in Congo next year.
They will also qualify for the next All Africa Games, doubling as a qualifier for the 2016 Brazil Olympic Games. That Uganda will take part in Afrobasket if they secure qualification over the next seven days speaks of the dramatic change in fortunes for the national basket teams.
Seven years ago Uganda could not even afford to take part in the Zone V tournament, with subsequent appearances being notorious for the poor welfare of players.
But Ambrose Tashobya and his Team Uganda Management group chaired by Mohammed Santur have enriched the standards and players no longer have to choose between national duty and comfort. They can have both. The fans will be hoping to have the joy of glory.
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