Basketball in Africa

 

Stephen Omony (C) will captain Uganda’s Silverbacks in Tunisia. PHOTO: ISMAIL KEZAALA 

By Ismail Dhakaba Kigongo

Posted  Sunday, July 5  2015 at  01:00

Kampala.

Tunisia has moved to quell security fears ahead of next month’s Fiba Africa Basketball Championship.
Uganda, like all the other 14 federations, that qualified for the 28th edition set for the cities of Nabeul and Hammamet have received new security assurances from the hosts ahead of the August 20-30 tournament.

This follows last Friday’s terrorist attack on holiday makers in the Tunisian resort of Sousse. Thirty-eight tourists were killed when a gunman opened fire on a beach.

Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack. Uganda’s senior men’s team, the Silverbacks, qualified to represent Zone V along with Egypt at the tournament.

“We are being informed by Tunisian Authorities that arrangements are in process in order to ensure security generally and in particular for the AfroBasket 2015,” a letter addressed to federation presidents and the Fiba board reads in part.

Fiba Africa secretary general, Bile Alphonse, signed the letter. It’s normal practice for western diplomats and governments to issue travel advisories in the wake of such attacks.

Uganda has been a victim of such terrorism as over 70 people were killed in the 2010 bombings at Kyadondo grounds and Ethiopian Village during live broadcasts of the Fifa World Cup final.

Consequently, the Elgon/Victoria Cup tie in rugby was put off and several public events had to be postponed or cancelled altogether.

Afrobasket draw
GROUP A: Tunisia, Uganda, Nigeria, CAR
GROUP B: Angola, Mozambique, Senegal, Morocco
GROUP C: Egypt, Gabon, Mali, Cameroon
GROUP D: Ivory Coast, Cape Verde, Algeria, Zimbabwe