A) SILVERBACKS
The National Senior Men’s Basketball Team, the Silverbacks have today been flagged off by the NCS Chairman, Dr. Donald Rukare to the FIBA AfroBasket Qualifiers slated for 27th to 29th November 2020 in Alexandria, Egypt.

The team comprising of Seven local based players will depart tomorrow, Saturday 14th November 2020 and will be joined by Five foreign based players for a 10 days Pre-camp in Alexandria before the actual event.
Uganda is drawn in Group E alongside hosts Egypt, Morocco, and Cape Verde.

The qualifiers are organised in two windows; the first being in Alexandria and thereafter a second window from 19th to 21st February 2021 in Morocco. The Top Three teams will consequently qualify for the FIBA AfroBasket Finals due in July 2021 in Kigali, Rwanda.

The FUBA President, Mr. Nasser Sserunjogi emphasised the importance of the team qualifying for the FIBA AfroBasket Finals, which also will act as the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers.

Notwithstanding the financial constraints caused by COVID19, the NCS Chairman Dr. Donald Rukare flanked by Dr. Patrick Ogwel, while flagging of the team pledged to support the Silverback’s qualification campaign to the FIBA AfroBasket Finals.

National Council of Sports thereafter hosted the team to a luncheon at the Copper Chimney Restaurant.

FIXTURES:
27TH November 2020:
Uganda vs Egypt at 17:30

28th November 2020:
Uganda vs Morocco at 17:30

29th November 2020:
Uganda vs Cape Verde at 17:30

SILVERBACKS TEAM COMPOSITION:
Local based players:
Jimmy Abraham Enabu (Team Captain), Tonny Drieba, Benjamin Komakech, James Okello, Joseph Ikong, Titus Odeke, Stanley Mugerwa
Foreign based players:
Robinson Opong Odoch, Deng Gau, Ishmail Wainright, Eric Rwahire and Emmanuel Mugenga

B) UGANDA CRANES
The Uganda Cranes will fly out tomorrow, Saturday 14th November 2020 to Nairobi, Kenya for the second leg of the Group B Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers Match against South Sudan slated on Monday, 16th November 2020 at 4pm. Yesterday, Halid Lwaliwa scored Uganda’s sole goal against South Sudan in the first leg played at the St. Mary’s Stadium, Kitende.

Uganda is drawn in Group B with Burkina Faso, Malawi and South Sudan and the top two teams will qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon due in 2021.

C) CRICKET CRANES
The Cricket Cranes-The Senior Men’s National Team is scheduled to Tour the Qatar City of Doha from 14th to 19th December 2020 and will play International Cricket Council (ICC) sanctioned and rating Twenty20 matches against Nepal, Malaysia and hosts Qatar.

While in the middle East, the Cricket Cranes who will be captained by Brian Masaba and have a new coach, South African Lawrence Mahatlane in their ranks for the first time since his official appointment in July 2020.
Fresh from the inaugural Uganda Elite League, a provisional squad of 21 players is currently in training under the management of interim Coach Davis Turinawe and Assistant Coach Jackson Ogwang.

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