The national women’s basketball team, The Gazelles, are targeting the number-one spot in the forthcoming Africa Zone V Afro-basket qualifiers due in Egypt from March 12 to 18. That is according to their coach Nick Natuhereza.
Finishing first, as they did during the same qualifiers in September 2014, is a feat they would like to repeat. However, without three of the post players, that were instrumental then, this could prove a bridge too far.
Sharon Karungi, Peace Proscovia and Claire Lamunu played key roles in upstaging Egypt and Kenya, the two teams they competed against for the one qualification slot. But for a range of reasons, they are not teaming up with the Gazelles this time.
It has been reported that Karungi was scared by the United States of America (USA)’s immigration ban, which has been a contentious issue since Donald Trump took office in January.
Karungi studies in the US and is unwilling to risk leaving her adopted country with the possibility of being denied entry on her return. Natuhereza is unfazed by the absence of Karungi, Proscovia and Lamunu, who are deemed so important in offence as post players on the team.
He said: “I have not worked with those players for close to three years now. So, I do not know what kind of technical and physical shape they are in. I cannot miss what I have not had or lost.”
Instead, Natuhereza is excited about the players he has in training. Martha Soigi, Mayimuna Namuwaya and Stella Nanfuka are the new post players Natuhereza will be relying on if the team travels to Egypt.
He said: “They are an enthusiastic lot, who are hungry to make their international mark.”
Natuhereza added that he also has Sarah Ageno, who can play there in case the need arose although she is more of a small forward. However, the lack of many options in the big man area remains a huge concern here. There are a few Ugandan big men.
The women’s champions UCU have for a few years now, been using Kenyan players in that area. For example, Vilma Achieng has been their main big man and captain. Before Achieng, Purity Odhiambo and the now retired Lauryn Akinyi were all Kenyan.
It has been cited that the basketball administration and its technical arm, have not done enough to scout and nurture tall female basketball players, who can play post. A more concerted effort is needed in this regard. Furthermore, most emerging tall female athletes have joined either volleyball or netball.
It is from the latter that Soigi and Namuwaya, for example, have come. Their application on both offence and defence will be crucial to the Gazelles’ fortunes at the zone V.
Since Natuhereza knows the Kenyans well, Soigi and Namuwaya, whose combination worked well for KCCA Leopards last season, must have the right notes.
Their physicality should outdo the more frail Egyptians too, who together with the Kenyan women, are the other team to confirm participation at the Zone V. But by press-time, Fuba had not secured all the money needed to take both the men’s and women’s teams to Egypt.
jovi@observer.ug