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Developing players and coaches for the Uganda National youth program to get into the National teams being the aim,Federation of International Basketball Association (FIBA) , Federation of Uganda Basketball Association (FUBA) and Africa Youth Council launched the National Youth Camp in Uganda.
This Youth National Camp has been all around Africa and previously been hosted in Kenya and Ivory Coast.
This camp was launched on Monday 21st February 2022, the same day it started off with a coaching session and will be stopped on Saturday 26th February 2022 at the Africa Bible University in Lubowa.
From Monday to Wednesday we will witness sessions that are aimed at equipping coaches with knowledge on how to identify and develop talent while the youth Basketball players are expected to join on Friday and Saturday, in a residential setting.
A total of 20 coaches who include current players and coaches plus 30 players (15 Boys and 15 Girls) are in the camp. In the Monday’s afternoon session, the coaches took to the court.
This program is intended to create a good base for youth development in Africa and this year, FUBA and NCS are glad to partner with key instructors in the growth and development of the game who facilitate in the implementation of this program from FIBA and NBA as Ambrose Tashobya, the FIBA Africa Youth Council President said
FOR THE COACHES.
He said the experts are going to equip the coaches that have interest in helping the country grow the base of the sport by identifying and developing talent, and later on work with the U-18 players.
Joe Toumou, the NBA Academy Technical Director also hailed the coaches for their passion and promised continued support because they “have to push the game to the highest level and acquiring knowledge is the number one thing that we want to do.”
“This was put together to share what we have. The work starts here but doesn’t end here because they will have to tour other regions. We will be here to help re-ignite your passion. This is a country of athletes and we want the whole of Africa to be respected,” Toumou stated.
Nouri Amri, the FIBA instructor also said the aim of this camp is to equip coaches and the national federation with some tools and knowledge in order for them to make the right choices, decide the right selection criteria, select the right players in terms of talent identification and learn how to spot, develop and maintain the players.
FOR FUBA
FUBA hope to identify find ways to obtain greater talents from this camp. The Federation president Nasser Sserunjogi came out to say, there was a need to have a pathway to identify and develop talent and its the reason why the camp is divided into two sections.
“We have a program through our technical directorate to develop players at the age of under-14, work with them for at least a period of two years to prepare them for the U-16 AfroBasket,” Sserunjogi noted.
“Because we realized most of our athletes arrive at these tournaments when they are not ready. So, we need to make a deliberate move to have them ready to play by their 16th birthday. We believe such programs will go a long way in preparing the players through the right path.”
The government through the National Council of Sports General Secretary Patrick Ogwel appreciates the development of the youth and have approved national development plan-3 for sports development in Uganda.
“We are looking for more funding to be rolled out in areas of technical development that will empower youth and enhance skills development as part of a holistic strategy for our government.” he said
“This is a very good precursor on the way forward. NCS will embrace this program and work very closely with FUBA to ensure its success,” Ogwel promised.
And, at the end of the session on Saturday, the best 15 players will be invited for the Regional Camp.
