Gazelles’ Spanish coach Albert Antuna is confident that Uganda can ably compete at the forthcoming 2023 FIBA Women’s Afrobasket in Kigali, Rwanda.
Antuna arrived on Wednesday night and conducted Thursday’s training at Africa Bible University in Lubowa alongside team Videographer Juan Ferreira.
This was Antuna’s return in the Country since the Zone V Championship in February this year, and the tactician said that Uganda has a good chance to put up a show at a tournament due 28 July to 6 August.
“I am really happy to be back here to represent the Country and the Gazelles,” Antuna started with a broad smile.
“I have been following the first half of the of the League (NBL) for the Local players, every two or three days I have been in touch with Coach Nicholas Natuhereza and Coach Mavita Ali.”
Uganda failed to secure an automatic ticket back in February after losing to Egypt in the final but qualified after getting a Wild Card.
And the tournament in Kigali will mark the first time since 2015 that the Gazelles play at Afrobasket, an equivalent of Women’s AFCON in football.
“We have to realize that it’s the first time in the about eight years that we are able to compete on the Continent, and its the biggest Championship in Africa,” Antuna responded when asked about how big a platform Aftobasket is.
“We need to be grateful and excited to have the opportunity, even if we go with the underdog mentality.”
Uganda was pitted with African Powerhouses Mali and Senegal, the latter have won it a record 11 times.
“We are going to compete with Mali and Senegal and we have to prepare as much as possible.
“One thing is that we have to know that we deserve to be in this Championship, and I believe we can make some noisy.
“We have a more competitive roster, we just have to adjust with the foreign-based additions who are joining us, and try to build the most competitive team possible.”
On Thursday, the coach had to do it with just six players – Lydia Babirye, Shilla Lamunu, Priscilla Abby, Sarah Ageno, Melissa Akullu, Maria Najjuma.
Five JKL players were excused from training as they have a crucial League game on Friday against KIU Rangers at YMCA Court on Friday.
Victoria Mukisa and Leticia Awor are nursing injuries, as earlier reported here.
UCU Lady Canons due of Bridget Aber (Exams) and Shakira Nanvubya (allergy) did not attend after missing initial sessions as they were out of the Country with Gazelles U23 3×3 team in DR Congo for Nations League.
Jamila Nansikombi (Troy University) is unlikely to make the trip, Jane Asinde went to Canada with BAL select team and will return next week, Jannon Otto will be available for Saturday practice while Claire Lamunu will be in the Country around July 23rd.
Antuna, on having few numbers on his first day and going forward, said: “It’s not the best scenario possible but we are not going to complain, it’s not going to be a big problem.”
The initial squad summoned had 19 players, including ten local based players.
The final roster will have 12 players that will represent the Country in Kigali, and Antuna has embraced the selection headache.
“It’s going to be tough,” Antuna on selecting the best 12. “The Girls that competed in the Qualifiers deserve to be on the team because they are the ones who did the work.
“But at the same time we need to understand that this is a National team, we have to get the best 12 players and build a competitive team.”
Earlier, Coach Nicholas Natuhereza hinted that the Foreign-based players have a bigger chance of making the final roster.
And as it looks, with Nansikombi and Mukisa the only exclusion, the seven foreign-based players may have their places guaranteed on the final roster.
“They (foreign-based) also bring the physicality aspect,” Antuna added.
“We are going to be like a more physical team but at the same time I want the team to run, I think the biggest asset we had in the Qualifiers we were like aggressive, defended in numbers, we were running, we were scoring a lot on the first break and also in transition.
“We are going to try to balance, try to add some physicality but at the same time we want to be the smartest team because in talent and physicality we cannot compete with some of the rosters.”
The top team in each group will go direct to the Quarterfinals.
The remaining teams (2 and 3 in each group) will battle it out at the Round of 16.
If Uganda fails to top the Group, they will meet second or third-placed team in Group D that has Nigeria, Egypt and DR Congo.
Uganda will return to the Women Afrobasket for the first time since 2015 in Yaounde, Cameroon.
The 2023 Women Afrobasket Groups:
Group A – Rwanda, Angola, Zone 2
Group B – Cameroon, Mozambique, Wild Card
Group C – Mali, Senegal, Uganda
Group D – Nigeria, Egypt, DR Congo
