It has been confirmed that Uganda National Basketball Team the Silverbacks will not be taking part in the FIBA World Cup African Qualifiers after the national body failed to secure funds for the team.

The Silverbacks who recently put up a wonderful  display at the 2021 FIBA  Afrobasketball championship in Rwanda; finishing in 6th position overall including that amazing win over Nigeria had the opportunity to showcase their potential yet again at another big stage were left weeping after the government through   National Council of Sports _ NCS said that they don't have the funds to facilitate the team to feature in first round of the FIBA world cup Africa qualifiers that are  scheduled to happen in Angola starting on Friday 26th - 28th November. 2021.

This is the second time the government is failing to facilitate the Silverbacks.

It should  be  remembered  that on their way to qualification for the FIBA Afrobasketball Finals in Rwanda, the team had to borrow money through the FUBA president for the trip to Morocco in Agadir were qualification for Afro basketball was achieved.
       
"The Federation of Uganda Basketball Association (FUBA) on a very sad note wishes to inform the public that the senior Men’s national Basketball team the Silverbacks will not compete at the FIBA World cup qualifiers window 1 in Benguela (Angola) from 26th to 28th of November 2021,” read part of the statement from the  FUBA president Nasser Sserunjonji." 
    
"FUBA was informed that the Government of Uganda through National Council of Sports (NCS) had no money to support the team for this particular campaign," the further reads.

The Silverbacks needed approximately Ug. Shs. 380 million to make the trip to Angola to fight for a place at the FIBA World Cup.
 
Having put up a splendid performance at the AfroBasket finals in Kigali, Rwanda recently; making the quarter finals and  finishing No. 6 overall, the team had a genuine chance to be among the top 5 countries in Africa and make it to the FIBA World Cup for the very first time in the history of Ugandan Basketball.
  
The summoned players: 

Local based

Jimmy Enabu, Tony Drileba, Ivan Muhwezi, Fayed Bale, Peter Obleng, Titus Lual Odeke, James Okello, Ben Komakech.

Foreign based

Deng Geu, Devis Brandon Jameel, Eric Rwahwire, Robinson Opong Odoch, Emmanuel Wamala Timothy, Hakim Ghedi.

Silverbacks  were drawn in  the same pool with countries  such as Mali , Nigeria  and Capeverde .

By Kayemba Timothy Calvin sportznow.ug writer