Basketball in Africa

Taking a season off and then turn into one of the mainstays on Falcons’ rotation at the first go and juggling defensive and offensive responsibilities and finding the basket quite regularly requires a special blend of talent, ability, hard work and desire.
The talent, ability, desire and hard work of Jonah Mukwaba.
The twenty one year old Mukwaba started his basketball life nearly eight years ago at Ndejje S.S. It took him just two years to be the best in high school as he was named MVP in the 2009 NASBA Championships.
He later joined National Basketball League side, Charging Rhinos (then were in Division II) and earned promotion that year to play in the premier division in 2012.
The guard took off the 2013 season for personal workouts something he says helped him to make the leap to Falcons where he was welcomed well.“I was welcomed well at Falcons. Of Course you get a bit nervous but the mere fact that they took me up means they saw something in me and it was up to me to take up the challenge” he told Kawowo Sports in an interview.

While Mukwaba knows he has made progress playing for the six-time champions, he does not rest on his laurels as he sees this as only the beginning.where near what i want to be but i have made progress – in confidence, physical ability and i have got a better understanding of the game now than then when i just used to play.
I have got confidence in my dribble, i can call a play” he said. Well, he is also capable of taking over a game at any given moment.
The young guard may be third in the pecking order at Falcons behind Syrus Kiviiri and Kelly Martin and comes on at times for a few minutes but says that does not bother him. He just keeps competing.
“Competition keeps you at your best. You always work hard to get a place and it only comes when you deserve it” he argues.
“At Falcons we have learnt to put the team first. If you are on court you have got to be doing something for the team and when you are pulled off then you support your teammates from the bench” he says.
Under the mentor-ship and guidance of Sam Obol who has seen him through his basketball life, the versatile shooting guard might just be on track to greatness in the local game. That’s the popular wisdom going by how he is developing through the years.
“I want to be the best i can become. I want to be a complete player on and off the court.” Mukwaba told Kawowo Sports. “If it comes with accolades, well and good”
Mukwaba harbors the ambition of playing for the Silver-backs. “Of Course at some point i want to play of the national team. I want to get a place on the national team when i deserve it” he says.