Mon, August 20, 2012
KAMPALA, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Basketball clubs from six countries are gathering in Uganda for the 2012 Federation of International Basketball Association (FIBA) Africa Zone 5 championship slated to start on Monday.
The week-long regional club basketball competition will be held in the capital Kampala at different venues.
Burundi' s Urunani (men) and KPA (women) from Kenya are the defending champions after coming out supreme last year in the event played in the Tanzanian capital Dar es Salaam.
Hosts Uganda are represented by local league champions DMark Power and Kyambogo Warriors for the men, while Uganda Christian University Lady Canons and KCCA Leopards represent the women.
Ali Balunywa, the spokesperson of the Federation of Uganda Basketball Association told Xinhua on Monday that they expect a very competitive event.
"We hope one of our teams can win the regional trophy which has eluded us for a long time now," said Balunywa.
The event has attracted teams from Uganda, Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and South Sudan.
Three games are scheduled to be played on Monday with KCCA Leopards facing a tough hurdle against Burundi' s Berco Stars.
Another Ugandan side Kyambogo Warriors will take to the court against Rwanda' s Espoir in a men' s game, before UCU Canons battle Kenya' s Eagle Wings in the last women' s game of the day.
On Tuesday five games will take place.
The winners of the FIBA Africa Zone 5 event will represent the Zone in the Africa Cup of Nations Basketball Championships.
Pools (men)
A: Urunani (Burundi), Kyambogo Warriors (Uganda), Savio (Tz), Espoir (Rwanda)
B: KCB Lions (Kenya), DMark Power (Uganda), ABC (Tz), South Sudan
Pools (Women)
A: KPA (Kenya), KCCA (Uganda), Jeshi Stars (Tanzania), Berco Stars (Burundi)
B: Eagle Wings (Kenya), UCU Canons (Uganda), Don Bosco (Tz), APR (Rwansa)
