Uganda’s national basketball team Junior Women, Junor Gazelles, defied odds earlier this year in Rwanda to win the Zone V U16 championship.
The triumph helped book a slot for the FIBA Africa U16 Women’s Championship that Rwanda will host from July 26 to August 4, 2019.
This will be the coveted continental championship’s maiden appearance for Uganda.
While debuts are about studying and always hard, Roger Sserunyigo’s coach is hoping from his statement, they are in for a great show.
Sserunyigo thinks that this is a great chance to expose players to this kind of contest, but he is confident that his team are prepared for the assignment.
“It is not easy to play at such levels but the chance is before us and we must use it to our best. We are going to compete not to participate despite this being our maiden appearance,” he said.
The team of twelve players at the Uganda Olympic Offices in Kampala was flagged off on Thursday and will travel by road to Rwanda on Friday.
However, the Junior Gazelles are traveling with the President of the Uganda Basketball Associations Federation (FUBA), Nasser Sserunjogi, in the midst of economic difficulties, suggesting that they have not received government assistance.
“We have had challenges in finances but we can’t sit back and wait, we have to do everything in our means so that the team goes to Rwanda. I call upon government through National Council of Sports to fund the team because this is not personal property,” he said as quoted by Sports Nation.
For the last ten days, the team has been in housing camp at Lubowa’s Africa Bible University.
The Junior Gazelles are going to line up against Rwanda hosts, record holders Mali, South Africa, Tanzania, Mozambique, and Angola.
The championship’s top two teams will qualify for the FIBA U17 Women’s World Cup in Romania next year.
Junior Gazelles Squad: Mary Moses Amanyo, Esther Kwagala, Mary Najjuma, Michelle Aber Linda, Peninah Nabakooza, Sheila Aber Lamunu, Patience Nantume, Sharifa Nalwadda, Lydia Babirye, Sylvia Namuddu, Joyce Nyapendi, Regina Ajuma
Coaches: Roger Sserunyigo and Harriet Lubowa
Head of Delegation: Hudson Ssegamwenge (FUBA, General Secretary)