With three days left until the start of the Africa Zone V tournament tournament, head coach Mandy Juruni has finally named his 12-man squad to represent Uganda at the competition.
The biggest surprise on the team is UCU Canons’ forward Mike Madol, who has impressed during training and the two practice games the team had.
City Oilers duo of guard Jonah Otim and forward James Okello joins Pemba Warriors guard Mark Opio and Our Savior’s Joseph Chuma as the other newcomers to make the team.
The surprise exclusion is that of veteran Norman Blick who has failed to impress Juruni in the sessions. UCU captain Jonathan Egau is the other player to be dropped from the travelling contingent.
Due to financial constraints, Juruni already reduced the number of foreign-based players to two with only Stanley Ocitti and US-based Darius Pegues expected to link up with the team in Cairo before the tournament.
Canada-based Robinson Odoch and US-based John Balwigaire have both been omitted from the group.
After veteran center Henry Malinga confirmed that he wouldn’t take any part in the national team’s activities, Chuma was called up to fill the void and the former UCU forward has made the team.
The team is set to travel for the tournament on Thursday night and Juruni is confident his troops can go to Egypt and get good results to make the finals for the second successive time.
Egypt won the last edition of Zone V which was held in Uganda in 2014 while the hosts qualified as second seed after trouncing Somalia, Kenya and Rwanda.
Travelling Team:
Steven Omony
Jimmy Enabu
Ben Komakech
Jonah Otim
Mark Opio
Joseph Ikong
Mike Madol
James Okello
Ivan Lumanyika
Joseph Chuma
Stanley Ocitti
Darius Pegues