Who will clinch Zone 5's spots for the 2024 FIBA U18 African Championships?

 

KAMPALA (Uganda)- The-six day FIBA Africa U18 Championships for Zone 5 get underway on Sunday, June 9 and finishes on Friday, June 14 in Kampala, Uganda.

Who will bag the top prizes as the youngsters from the East Africa region battle for honors as they showcase their talents in the qualifiers race for the 2024 FIBA U18 African Championships to be held in South Africa in August? 

Four nations led by the host Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda  and Tanzania will square it out in the boys category.

For the girls, Uganda will lead four nations that also includes Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania.

Zone Five President Hesham el Hariri showed his excitement at the return of the Kenyan teams to the festival in Kampala. He notes:

"I am happy for Kenya come back to participate in youth competitions in the East Africa community Zone 5 and this will increase the competition and the level of our youth." he told FIBA.basketball.

Hesham el Hariri (second from left)

The best team/gender and Egypt (the 2022 champion in the men and 1st runner in women)  will qualify to the Final Round.

The eight teams are in the two  categories are going all out to showcase their talents and they will not disappoint.

Uganda, playing at their back yard remain highly-favored. They are the defending champions and they will be sweating it out at their famed Lugogo Indoor Arena urged on by their raucous fans.

 

The girl's team, under the tutelage of head coach John Omondi, have improved considerably and are going for a repeat.

And they bank their hopes on the exploits of shooting guard Maxine Modesta and play maker Angella Auma as well as small forward Immaculate Adongpiny.

In the boys, head coach Andrew Tendo will be calling the shots and his main arsenals include point guard Tejan Rugette and small forward Brighton Galiwango

These players will be the key to the team's drive for success. 

Rwanda have come a long way and if the performance of their senior teams in the continent is anything to go bye, they remain a potential threat.

Tanzania have shown lately that they also belong up there, with the rest. They were last In the last championship played at the same venue, but the gradual improvement they showed was clear foe everyone to see.

 

For Kenya, it has been a long wait and their return to the regional tournament after many years is welcome news. They are convinced  this outing will be worth the wait.

The long road trip to Kampala, notwithstanding, the boys and girls handled by Martin Okwako and Roae Mshila, have only one thing in mind- a triumphant return to Zone Five.

The boys team have two players Patrick Ndungu and Clinton Wambugu who guided Agoro Sare to the silver medal during the national school championship in April.

Leading the girl's are the quartet of Alicia Mito,.Yvonne Otieno, Melvin Arupe and Grace Wacera- all from national girl's champions Butere Girls.

These youngsters believe they can go out there and reach the summit but they must prepare to shake off the threats from the high riding Rwanda, Tanzania and the host Uganda. 

Rose Mshila (girls) and Martin Okwako (boys) have been nd Emmanuel Agenda (boys).

Mshila, a member of the national 3x3 team and who also handles Clique Mambas in the national league lower tier is the girl's head coach. She says-

The boys on the other hand are under the tutelage of youth coach Martin Okwako who is not a stranger in Kampala. 

This will be the second time in two years that Kampala will be playing host to the regional junior show.

Of the teams squaring it out in the Kampala, who will have the last laugh when the final whistle goes?

That's the question everyone is asking.

FIBA