KAMPALA (Uganda) - Every player's dream is to feature at the highest level alongside and against the best in the hoops business.

City Oilers shooting guard Ivan Muhwezi is living that dream as he and his teammates prepare for the Basketball Africa League 2020 Second Round Qualifiers from December 17-22 in Kigali, Rwanda. 

The 21-year old is very eager to return to the city where he made his international debut appearance for Uganda at the FIBA Africa U18 Championship 2016 and is looking forward to leave a mark once again. 

"THIS GIVES ME ANOTHER CHANCE TO SHOWCASE MY SKILLS AND AS CITY OILERS, OUR GOAL AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS SEASON WAS TO QUALIFY FOR THE REGULAR SEASON OF THE BAL. MAKING IT TO THE SECOND ROUND SHOWS THAT WE ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK."- Muhwezi

City Oilers have won six straight national league titles in Uganda and are the undisputed best team in the Pearl of Africa in the last decade. 

Finishing fifth at the FIBA Africa Champions Cup two years ago in Tunisia earned them well deserved respect across the continent and after missing out on the qualifiers last year out of choice, they are eyeing a place at the high table once again. 

Juruni wants to lead  City Oilers to BAL

This time - the Basketball Africa League - even bigger and better is an opportunity for the Oilers to make a comeback but they face a tough hurdle in neighboring Rwanda where they will be up against familiar foes. 

Speaking exclusively to FIBA.basketball, Muhwezi said, "It is a great opportunity for me because I get to play with the best players in Africa and get better as a basketball player. The tournament will help me get better because I will be facing the best in Africa."

City Oilers head coach Mande Juruni, who took keen interest in the then teenager after the Kigali showpiece, has been mentoring him to become the leader of the next generation to lead the club and the national team. 

Juruni, who also doubles as the Silverbacks (Uganda) assistant coach, said, "We picked him because he is talented, athletic and is learning and playing around good players and a good system."

"He is still growing in terms of understanding the game better and has a good future ahead of him. He gets to train and play at a high level with City Oilers. That is good for him to grow. "

Since joining the Oilers in 2017, Muhwezi has improved drastically earning his place in the regular lineup week in, week out but he yearns for more. He has won two league titles with the Oilers and is now seeking more presence on the continent. 

The Ugandan champions finished second in the Group D Qualifiers in October in Tanzania after falling to Patriots of Rwanda in the final game but according to Muhwezi, they will be back fighting even harder. 

"We want to correct our mistakes in the second round and hopefully qualify for the Regular Season of the BAL. It is a big challenge. Jimmy [Enabu] was an unbelievable player but I believe in hard work and I think I will fit in those shoes. The team missed his leadership on and off the court because he was our captain but we managed to adjust but the team will miss him always."

"It gives me another chance to showcase my skills and as Oilers our goal at the beginning of the year was to qualify for the Regular Season of the BAL and making it to the second round shows we are on the right track."

City Oilers were drawn in a very tough Group B with Cobra Sport from South Sudan, Ferroviario de Maputo of Mozambique and Kenya Ports Authority. 

The other group has hosts Patriots, GNBC from Madagascar, UNZA Pacers from Zambia and JKT of Tanzania.

The top two teams from each group will advance to the Semi-Finals, where the teams that finish in the first three places will qualify for the Basketball African League regular season in March 2020.

FIBA