The National Team for the senior Women set off for the FIBA 3X3 world cup in Manila Philippines, Uganda’s team comprising of Rita Imanishimwe, Sarah Ageno, Jamila Nansikombi flew today Wednesday 6th June, 2018.
Uganda, Nigeria and Mali will be the three Africa countries to compete in this world event. They are led by the President Ambrose Tashobya alongside team coordinator Hamza Nyambogo. USA based Claire Lamunu will link up with the team in Dubai from US before the team heads to Manila.
NCS Chairman John Bosco Onyik flanked by UOC president William Blick flagged off the team and hailed FUBA for being organised.
“This is not a small achievement and we shall continue supporting federations that represent the country at such levels and basketball is one of the priority sports that we are supporting fully,” Onyik said.
Tashobya said Uganda is also among the five countries in Africa that are being fast tracked to qualify for the Olympics alongside Egypt, Nigeria, Mali and Togo.
“This is historic, it is a huge achievement for us as basketball and it sets a new level for us not just that we qualified but because last year 3×3 was registered as one of the games at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics which gives us the momentum to continue working so that by 2019 we are ranked among the top two to be able to qualify,” Tashobya said.
“It’s a great achievement for us and we hope we will use it to build a team and also represent our country well. “We are ranked number one in Africa and we hope to continue building on this to make our country proud,” Tashobya stated.
UOC president, William Blick promised more funding for the team programmes, saying 3X3 had become an Olympic sport and that it was good to see the country represented at the World Cup.
Nyambogo said the team had prepared well and expects them to do the country proud following three weeks of preparations.
Source NewVision