Uganda have called on their star player Stephen Omony to boost their squad ahead of next month’s Zone 5 African Basketball Championship qualifiers in Rwanda. Omony, who plays in the Seychelles Basketball League with PLS Hawks, was left flattered after learning that he had been named in the 39-man provisional team.It is said that Omony did not think twice about heeding the national call provided his travel requirements are sorted out. Quoted on the Fiba-Africa website, Omony said, “I am ready to pick up my bags and travel back to Kampala in order to play for my country as long as my air ticket is catered for”. It is also said that Omony is the only player who is assured of an automatic slot in the final 14-man squad. “Omony is a player on a different (technical) level compared to our local players and may not need to be in that (final vetting) selection exercise,” said Joseph Manano, the organizing secretary of the Uganda basketball Federation. Omony is arguably the most famed basketball players in Uganda’s basketball history. Before turning pro, he was a two-time MVP with Mogas Falcons, one of most successful basketball clubs in Uganda. The African basketball championship qualifiers throw off on February 23 at Kigali’s Amahoro Indoor stadium. Besides hosts Rwanda and Uganda, Egypt, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, Ethiopia and Sudan are some of the other countries expected to turn up for the basketball show piece. In 2007, Rwanda made the most of their home crowd by qualifying for their first ever Afro-basket championships in Angola after a second spot finish in the qualifiers. Rwanda finished 12th in Angola. Ends
