WATCH: Zone V U18: FUBA Eye Double Qualification

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Uganda is buzzing with excitement as it prepares to host the FIBA Zone V U18 Africa Championships Qualifiers from June 9-16 at Lugogo in Kampala.

The nation is entering two teams, the Junior Silverbacks (boys) and the Junior Gazelles (girls), with aspirations of securing a double qualification to the FIBA Africa U18 Championships set for August in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The preparations for this major event began in earnest last December, with numerous trials that saw many players promoted from the Under-16 teams.

These efforts have been spearheaded by the Federation of Uganda Basketball Associations (FUBA), with General Secretary Hudson Ssegamwenge, who is also the chairman of the local organizing committee, expressing the team’s ambitions.

“Our main goal is to qualify, we want a direct ticket. We want to dine with the big boys,” Ssegamwenge stated.

The upcoming championships have already seen nine teams confirm their participation, including Uganda, which will field two teams, as well as Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia (girls team), and Tanzania.

South Sudan and Ethiopia are yet to confirm their involvement, while Egypt has already secured its place due to their outstanding performance in the 2022 tournaments.

The coaching duties for the Ugandan teams will be handled by Andrew Tendo for the Junior Silverbacks and John Omondi for the Junior Gazelles.

The Junior Gazelles are aiming to replicate or even surpass their success from 2022, when they qualified for the finals in Madagascar, a feat that the Junior Silverbacks narrowly missed.