Uganda national basketball team, the Silverbacks’ recent rise to the top of regional basketball is not an easy pill for neighbours Rwanda to swallow.
Uganda have won the last two meetings with Rwanda and qualified for the FIBA AfroBasket ahead of Moise Mutokambali’s charges.
“Our current team has several young players who do not have a lot of experience at this level but we have to work very hard and win all our home games,” shooting guard Ali Kubwimana told FIBA.com in an interview this week.
Rwanda dominated East Africa basketball in the last decade and featured at the FIBA AfroBasket in 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2013 before failing to qualify in 2015 after losing to their rivals in the decider in Kampala.
Kubwimana, who was part of the team that fell to Uganda in 2015, is not shy to reveal that Uganda’s recent performances are a cause for serious concern and will need a lasting solution.
”It is true that Uganda is a big concern for us right now but we have to work extra hard if we want to go back to the top. We have a group of young players who do not have a lot of experience at the moment but for starters, we have to correct the mistakes we made against Uganda in Cairo,” Kubwimana said told FIBA.com.
Rwanda were drawn in the same group as Uganda, reigning African champions Nigeria and Mali ahead of the World Cup qualifiers that start November this year.
Kubwimana believes there won’t be any short cuts back to the top and Rwanda have work to do if they are to reclaim a place they call their own in East Africa basketball.
“We need to play friendly games before national team engagements that will challenge, however, the competitiveness in the national league at the moment is very good for us,” Kubwimana concluded.
Rwanda lost to Uganda at the Zone V tournament held in Cairo, Egypt in March to miss out on automatic qualification to the continental showpiece.
They, however, landed a wild card to feature at the event set for August in Angola.