KAMPALA (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 African Qualifiers) – Uganda will test their readiness for the African Qualifiers third window when they take part in the Registered International Istanbul Tournament from June 15-21 at Adalet Turan Sport Convention Center in the Turkish capital.

The Silverbacks, who sit second in Group B on the table standings behind Nigeria, will be looking to go into the June – July window on a high note.

Uganda has been allocated to Group B with fellow African nation Cameroon, Iran and Bahrain while 11-time record African champions Angola, Jordan, Iraq and Kuwait are in Group A.

“IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR US AS A TEAM TO PLAY THIS TOURNAMENT IN ISTANBUL BECAUSE IT WILL GIVE US A CLEARER PICTURE ON WHERE WE ARE AS A TEAM AND ALSO HELP US TO MAKE THE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS BEFORE WE HEAD TO LAGOS”- Omony

The need to polish up on several shortcomings carried from the FIBA AfroBasket 2017 in Senegal as well as the second window this February in Mali will be a crucial reference point for the Silverbacks at this tournament.

Against Angola last year in Dakar, Uganda led by 15 points at Half-Time but gave away the lead due to lack of concentration, and the same vice came back to bite them against Mali when the latter dropped a three-pointer on the buzzer to deny Uganda what could have been a crucial victory.

Silverbacks captain Stephen Omony believes that this tournament in Istanbul will help Uganda to prepare adequately and correct those mistakes that have cost his side over the past year or so.

He told FIBA.basketball that, “All this opposition has been playing at a higher level than we have before as a team so this then helps us not only to learn from them but also be able to gauge ourselves and give us a realistic viewpoint of our expectations as we approach the World Cup Qualifiers. I am confident that we shall be a much better team after this experience.”

“It is very important for us as a team to play this tournament in Istanbul because it will give us a clearer picture on where we are as a team and also help us to make the necessary adjustments before we head to Lagos [June-July],” Omony added.

This is the first time Uganda are competing in the World Cup Qualifiers and according to Omony, qualifying to the next round is top on their priority list.

FIBA