Coronavirus | What next for Ugandan basketball?

CORONAVIRUS & SPORTS

KAMPALA - Following the further extension of Uganda's coronavirus lockdown, local basketball governing body FUBA has come out on the way forward for this year's calendar activities.

Below is the statement by FUBA president Nasser Sserunjogi:

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Greetings from Federation of Uganda Basketball Associations - FUBA and we hope that you are staying home and safe, following the Ministry of Health guidelines during this Covid-19 pandemic.

Following the Presidential address of May 4th 2020 and the new guidelines/directives issued by the President, it appears that we shall not be able to start our calendar activities soon as earlier on anticipated.

This is to therefore inform you that depending on the new directives issued at the end of the 14 days lock down extension, we are considering the following options;

1. We shall definitely have to suspend some calendar activities, as they will be overtaken by events.

2. For the National Basketball League - NBL (Men and Women), we have a number options as follows;

(a) To play a one leg/round league where the top 4 teams in each division qualify for the semi-finals

(b) A Tournament-based competition where we have teams grouped in different divisions, and then the top four teams qualify for the semi-finals.

(c) If time doesn't allow us to have the above two options by end of October 2020, then we shall be left with no option but to cancel the league. However, we shall either have a knock out tournament, which includes all teams from the different divisions, or short 3x3 tournaments to engage our players and fans with some basketball activity for the year 2020.

3. For the Division 1 and 2, if time allows, we shall follow the same format of one leg/round since this has been the practice. Option (C) above equally applies for Division 1&2.

4. The U18 (Boys & Girls) Zone V Qualifiers that was scheduled for June 2020 was postponed by FIBA until further notice.

5. The Afrobasket Zone V Club Championship is still on course in October 2020 unless otherwise communicated by FIBA.

6. The Basketball Africa League - BAL qualifiers is still on course in October 2020 unless otherwise communicated by FIBA & NBA Africa.

7. The 3x3 Africa Cup 2020 is still on course in November, unless otherwise communicated by FIBA.

8. The Afrobasket qualifiers (Men) is also still on course in November 2020 unless otherwise communicated by FIBA.

We thank you for all your efforts and support offered to your team/club members during this trying moment of the Covid-19 pandemic.