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The 2023 Women's Afro-basket will be contested by 12 teams, divided into four groups of three teams each, the Gazelles who earned a wild card for the showpiece are pooled in group C alongside Mali and Senegal.
Once again, Uganda will be united when the national female basketball team, the Gazelles, head to Kigali, Rwanda, from July 28th to August 6th to participate in the Afro-basket, the premier national women's basketball competition. It will be their third appearence.
The 2023 Women's Afro-basket will be contested by 12 teams, divided into four groups of three teams each, the Gazelles who earned a wild card for the showpiece are pooled in group C alongside Mali and Senegal.
How Uganda got there
The Gazelles earned the wild card in February following their great display when they hosted the Zone V qualifiers, along with Egypt, Kenya, Rwanda, and South Sudan.
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The five nations battled for one available slot in the Zone V which Egypt claimed after beating Uganda 74-65 in the final.
The Gazelles are now counting down to the main event but what do they need to bring it on?
Sponsors/Institutions
The Gazelles squad summoned for the Afro basket preps included nine foreign-based players expected to start non-residential camp from July 2nd.
But the cost attached to flying the players in and the logistics involved during the non-residential training, not to mention players' and officials' allowances is staggering, by Uganda Basketball standards.
Apart from the unreliable Government support, the Gazelles will need every little support from corporate companies and various institutions to support them in every way possible;
Every small contribution counts as FUBA can only do as much with the limited resources at their disposal.
Philanthropists
They probably do a better job, especially if they keep to their word, and Ugandan Sport has, over time, seen philanthropists support different teams.
From Mike Ezra (where is he btw) with the Uganda Cranes in 2007 to the first son General Muhoozi Kainerugaba who, on a few occasions has come to the rescue of the Silverbacks.
Any Philanthropist willing to lend a hand would certainly go a long way in motivating the Gazelles who need as much support as possible.
Media
The fourth estate is one of the major factors in pushing the Gazelles brand, and they have done a great job thus far, as was the case during the Zone V qualifiers.
The different interviews, player profiles, and constant content about the team preparations shared on their respective social media platforms is a huge factor in promoting the Gazelles brand to the public.
The fans
Probabaly the biggest motivating factor for the Gazelles, the fans complete the puzzle.
Just like it was the case in February when fans filled the Lugogo Arena for each game the Gazelles played, the same has to happen in Kigali during the Afro-basket tournament.
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The support motivated the team even more, especially during games that required them to dig deeper to win.
Fans should make the 317-mile trip to the Rwanda capital, especially since most basketball fans have always made the trip when the Silverbacks are in action, most recently during the FIBA World Cup qualifiers in July 2022.
A Ugandan vibe in the stands of the BK Kigali Arena will slap differently, that's for sure.
Let's Go, Ug, Let's Go, Gazelles
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