02 December 2006
UGANDA : Hoops Stars Desert Training Camp
UGANDA'S chances of retaining the East and Central Nations Championship have hit a snag. The tournament is due in Kigali, Rwanda February 24 to March 3, 2007.
The Federation of Uganda Basketball Associations (Fuba) last month summoned 42 players to begin training but leading stars including two-time MVP Norman Blick snubbed the call.
About 15 players have been training regularly at Makerere University for the past three weeks under the stewardship of coaches Robert Ndamagye and Silvan Kaboha but most of them have now thrown in the towel. Ronnie Kasewu, Stephen Okias, David Kiberu, Allan Tawoda, Robert Mubiru, Eric Malinga and Charles Ssuubi are some of the players that have given up on training. They have blamed lack of facilitation and postponement of the tournament as the reasons for their actions.
The tourney was pushed from last month to March next year. "How do they (FUBA) expect us to spend on transport and refreshments for all that time," said one of the players.Players that have attended training this week include Sadolin Power's Richard Balemwa, Simon Otine, Pascal Alule (Livingstone), Ben Komakech and Joseph Ikong.
FUBA technical committee chairman Yunus Nkutu said the federation has no money and needs a sponsor for the team. Uganda beat Kenya to win the championship last year.
The women, second to Kenya last year, are however training without incident.
The Federation of Uganda Basketball Associations (Fuba) last month summoned 42 players to begin training but leading stars including two-time MVP Norman Blick snubbed the call.
About 15 players have been training regularly at Makerere University for the past three weeks under the stewardship of coaches Robert Ndamagye and Silvan Kaboha but most of them have now thrown in the towel. Ronnie Kasewu, Stephen Okias, David Kiberu, Allan Tawoda, Robert Mubiru, Eric Malinga and Charles Ssuubi are some of the players that have given up on training. They have blamed lack of facilitation and postponement of the tournament as the reasons for their actions.
The tourney was pushed from last month to March next year. "How do they (FUBA) expect us to spend on transport and refreshments for all that time," said one of the players.Players that have attended training this week include Sadolin Power's Richard Balemwa, Simon Otine, Pascal Alule (Livingstone), Ben Komakech and Joseph Ikong.
FUBA technical committee chairman Yunus Nkutu said the federation has no money and needs a sponsor for the team. Uganda beat Kenya to win the championship last year.
The women, second to Kenya last year, are however training without incident.
# posted by afrbk : 17:19
