Wholesome changes for Silverbacks World Cup qualifier
Silverbacks coach Monday Juruni has made wholesome changes to his team 14-man provisional squad for the upcoming 2023 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers in Angola.
The Silverbacks will take on their first qualification hurdle in Benguela, Angola between November 25-28, as they seek to be among the five teams that will represent Africa in next year’s World Cup that will be held in Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia.
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But for the opening qualification leg, the Uganda will have to make do without star forward Ishmail Wainright whose schedule with new NBA franchise Phoenix Suns deters his selection for the Silverbacks according to FUA president Nasser Sserunjogi.
The 6-foot-5 forward, who recently signed a two-year deal with the Suns, was influential to Uganda’s performance at the AfroBasket in September where they finished sixth.
No Wainright, no problem is the narrative that has been sold – at least by national team manager Hajji Muhammed Satur – with American-born Brandon Davies called upon to fill his void.
The big man who plies his trade with Barcelona, possesses similar features to Wainright. Standing at 6 ft 10 in, Davies offers a wealth of experience after playing in the NBA for Brooklyn Nets Philadelphia 76ers previously.
There are four other foreign based stars on the provisional 14-man squad including Deng Geu, Mohamed Ghedi Abdihakim, Robinson Odong Opong and Eric Rwahire.
Womala Emmanuel Timothy who is based in Germany has earned his first national team call up. City Oil’s Isaac Muhwezi is the other debutant on the squad.
Meanwhile, Arthur Kaluma, Adam Seiko and Kieran Zziwa who were revelations at Afrobasket will miss the first qualification leg due to college engagements.
Their absence is a plus for Fayed Bbaale and Peter Obleng who now have the opportunity to impress after only watching from the side lines in earlier campaigns.
Seasoned Silverbacks stars Tony Drileba, Jimmy Enabu and Titus Odeke retain their places with Ben Komakech and James Okello also getting the nod.
The Silverbacks will start their preparations for the qualification round on November 12 at Africa Bible University in Lubowa with only 12 players from the 14 that have been called upon making the trip to Benguela.
Uganda will face Mali in their first Group A game on November 26 before Cape Verde and Nigeria on November 27 and 28 respectively.
The second leg of the first-round qualifiers will be held in July 2022, with the top three teams from each group advancing to the final qualifying round.
In the second round, the top three teams from the four groups will be divided into two groups of six. The top two from both groups plus third best-placed team with better record will qualify for the World Cup.
Silverbacks Squad
Local-based players: Ivan Muhwezi, Peter Obleng, Fayed Bbaale, Jimmy Enabu, Tonny Drileba, Titus Odeke, James Okello, Ben Komakech
Foreign based-players: Deng Geu, Mohamed Ghedi Abdihakim, Eric Rwahire, Robinson Odoch Opong, Womala Emmanuel Timothy, Brandon Davies
