Basketball in Africa

KAMPALA-Yesterday would have been the day when teams arrive in the country for the Fiba Africa Zone V Championship.

Thereafter, the weeklong tournament would tip-off today. As captain, Stephen Omony would have been extremely proud to lead out the national men’s basketball team, the Silverbacks, on to the Lugogo MTN Arena floor.

Ordinarily, as hosts, Uganda would play in the last fixture to crown what would have been a predictably magnificent opening day. It’s all a dream.

Fiba-Africa opted to postpone the event to a date between September and February 2015 with a vague reason of other teams not being ready.

Since the calendar was released in January, Uganda has been preparing and by a fortnight ago it was all systems go, including Omony and company.

He has had to settle for league contest. The forward scored 22 points in Falcons’ 83-67 Airtel National Basketball League win over Ndejje University Angels on Friday.

For a team that finished seventh amid management strife last season, the correction is going well as the record champions have won 6 of their seven games thus far.

Omong lifted the burden off Syrus Kiviri, who had 12 points and five assists against his former side, with 11 rebounds. Stephen Mwesigye had 13, shooting 100 per cent from behind the arc. Coach Sam Obol must also be relieved to see power forward Serge Kabangu finish with 12 in what has been a tough season.

Tony Jeasle had 21 points and Geoffrey Soro contributed 12 in a tame effort by Ndejje.