Claire Lamunu: It is time to polish up for Afrobasket

FUBA President Nasser Sserunjogi and Uganda Gazelles captain Flavia Oketcho receive the flag from NCS Chairman Ambrose Tashobya /Pulse Sports image

BASKETBALL Claire Lamunu: It is time to polish up for Afrobasket

Ndyamuhaki J Emanzi 09:37 - 26.07.2023

Having finished ninth in the 2015 championship, the Gazelles will be hoping to break into the quarter-finals eight years later.

Uganda Gazelles forward Claire Lamunu was the last player to join camp after arriving from the US last Saturday.

She was part of Monday’s training session and scrimmage before the team flew out to Kigali, Rwanda, for the FIBA Women’s Afrobasket 2023.

The former National Basketball League MVP now believes it’s time to polish up and get ready for the competition that tips of Friday at the BK Arena in Kigali.

“I think this was a good practice session, we only had like an hour, about an hour, but it was good,” Lamunu said after the team’s first session in Kigali.

“Now it’s time to polish up on the things we’ve been doing so that we get ready and are not making as many mistakes as we were making,” she added.

“From now on, everything is about getting better and fine-tuning the tiny details.”

The Gazelles were flagged off by National Council of Sports Chairman and former FUBA President Ambrose Tashobya, who urged them to play their hearts out.

Having finished ninth in the 2015 championship, the Gazelles will be hoping to break into the quarter-finals eight years later.

Uganda Gazelles players after they were flagged off for FIBA Women's Afrobasket 2023 on Tuesday /Pulse Sports image

Lamunu’s arrival will add some experience to the predominantly young team.

Of the 12 players in Kigali, only Lamunu and team captain Flavia Oketcho took part in the 2014 Zone Five Qualifiers, from which the Gazelles made it to the 2015 showpiece in Cameroon.