Sunday Fixtures:
W: Kenya Vs Uganda 5:00PM; M: Uganda Vs Rwanda 7:00 PM
Saturday Results:
W: Kenya 52-70 Egypt
M: Egypt 91-68 Somalia
M: Kenya 71-83 Uganda
Judgement day it is. The Silverbacks and Gazelles are up for must win games Sunday evening as the Zone V Nations Qualifiers’ curtains fall. The Silverbacks have to beat Rwanda to join event champions, Egypt on the continental show piece while the Gazelles have to beat Kenya by more than 3 points.
“This is the moment we have been waiting for. It is the reason we brought in foreign based players. It is the reason we have had all these preps” Silverbacks’ head coach, Mandy Juruni told Kawowo Sports
The Silverbacks saw off Kenya last night 83-71 with a balanced offensive play. Five Silverbacks reached double figures in scoring led by big men Ivan Lumanyika and Henry Malinga who will be instrumental again in limiting Kami Kabange and Bradley Cameron.
“We are lucky some of our guys play with him (Kami) and am his coach I know his strength and weakness” Juruni said.
Rwanda has got a plethora of scoring guards led by Kenneth Gasana and Aristide Mugabe something the Silverbacks will have to counter.
“We want to make them (Rwanda) do unusual things. We know they can execute and we will defend solid” Silverbacks assistant coach, Gad Eteu said.
The Silverbacks have players that can step up at different intervals of games and that might be the difference tonight.
Meanwhile, the Gazelles will again look to their inside superiority to dump out defending champions Kenya.
Gazelles’ bigs Peace Proscovia, Sharon Karungi and Claire Lamunu combined for 57 points and 37 rebounds in the win against Egypt on Friday and should overwhelm Brigid Nanzala, Purity Odhiambo and Everlyn Odong if Gazelles are to progress.
Flavia Oketcho and Rebecca Akulo should be able to counter Kenya’s back-court of Samba Mjomba and Hilda Luvendwa.