Sande Bashaija
Kampala
A dream trip and career-changing experience is at stake for over 120 budding local basketball players.
The Ugandan youngsters, selected from different regions, converge at YMCA Wandegeya this morning for day-long drills, at the end of which the best five will be selected for a Basketball Without Boarders (BWB) camp due next month in Johannesburg, South Africa.
To oversee the selection is Juwan Howard, a player with National Basketball Association (NBA) side Charlotte Bodcats. The 6ft 9inch American centre forward landed in town Friday evening and expressed desire to work with project sponsors Sprite to make the event a success.
“We shall be looking out for players who have passion for the game, talented and willing to compete,” the former Denver Nuggets, Orlando Magic and Dallas Mavericks player, said while addressing the press at Serena Hotel on Friday. Coca-Cola East and Central Africa announced on Friday they had set aside Shs200m for the Sprite Slam event that targets high school players.
“Through this platform, Coca-Cola under its sprite brand seeks to discover and nurture youth talent in basketball,” Coco-Cola East Africa brand manager for Uganda Maggie Kigozi stressed.
Howard, now a free agent ahead of the new NBA season, together with South African company Miles and Associates and local coaches, have a tough job of spotting the best five talents from the massive number of youth players. “We held mini-camps in Mbale, Fort Portal and Gulu and the passion the players have exhibited is so overwhelming. I believe with Howard’s experience and knowledge of the game, the technical committee will come up with the best Uganda can produce,” Kigozi added.
Uganda has in the past sent not more than two players to South Africa but the abundance of talent has prompted organisers to increase the slots to five. The BWB camp brings together young players from all over the world. They are trained in life and basketball skills by renowned coaches with the assistance of NBA stars.