KAMPALA (Uganda) - A third straight FIBA AfroBasket appearance is in the works for Uganda and with two wins out of three in the November 2020 window of the Qualifiers, the momentum within the team is at an all-time high. 

The Silverbacks have come a long way. From outsiders often considered underdogs in many a competition to outright challengers gunning for the skies, the East Africans have come of age. The journey has been long and hard but worthwhile. 

"WE HAVE COME UP WITH A MISSION AND WE HAVE SET GOALS TO BE BETTER THAN WE WERE IN THE NOVEMBER WINDOW."- Jimmy Enabu

Captain Jimmy Enabu, who has been around every step of the way from qualifying for the 2015 edition to returning to Africa's premier basketball event two years later and vying for yet another outing, the soft-spoken shooting guard is optimistic. 

He spoke to FIBA.basketball in an exclusive interview and explained that, "We have come up with a mission and we have set goals to be better than we were in the November window similar to the last time which is having positive vibes and approach this campaign the way that we should of course bearing in mind that we really want to return to the AfroBasket so we are putting in the work that we need to and hopefully the results will follow."

Uganda sit second in a tough Group E, a point behind table leaders Egypt and ahead of a determined Cape Verde side and a rather young and inexperienced Moroccan outfit.

Those unaware of the progress the Silverbacks have made over the years are surprised and claim that they are punching above their weight but Enabu and his comrades feel that they have earned their place at this level. 

"We did well and we prepared very well ahead of the tournament in November. Maybe, some people were surprised because they do not really know what is in Uganda but for us who are here and have seen the country growing in regards to basketball, we did not shock ourselves. It is something that we have been preparing for. One step at a time. We have been growing one day at a time."

"Qualifying back in 2014 was a very big deal. It was one of those things in my career and I am sure in other people's careers so when we qualified and actually played at the AfroBasket, it was a very big eye opener for most of us. When you play at that stage, you do not want to miss it again. So that is just extra motivation. Ever since then, we have been approaching preparations and games a bit differently because that level is definitely higher than what we face here in our league and region."

Enabu at the FIBA AfroBasket 2015 edition in Tunisia

It has not always been rosy for Uganda who have had their fair share of disappointments and most notably at the 2017 edition in Dakar, Senegal when they led record 11-time African champions Angola by 15 points at the half time break but the latter came back in the second half to force overtime and eventually won 94-89.  

According to Enabu, moments like that have since shaped the Silverbacks and prepared them for tough encounters that require them to dig deep and display mental strength throughout the game. 

"There is two ways to look at it. We felt that we should have won the game but from a player's perspective, the way they came from down showed a lot of maturity and poise and that is something that we did not have towards the end of the game.

"It affected us. Coming into this campaign, one of the things that we improved especially in the two games that we won was that aspect that helped us get over the hump. So much as that game was painful, it was a big lesson."

A fresh opportunity presented itself last November and when Cape Verde took a 52-43 lead at the half time break before outscoring the Ugandans 33-22 in the third quarter, the Silverbacks knew that the battle was not yet over. A spirited fight in the last period saw them edge Cape Verde 101-98 in an outstanding finish. 

At that particular moment, the Ugandan camp knew that they had come of age and of course the earlier 94-90 win over Morocco went a long way in giving them the confidence they needed to keep their qualification hopes alive.  

While producing these spectacular performances, Uganda have racked up three players in the top 10 highest points scorers of the FIBA AfroBasket 2021 Qualifiers across all the five groups. 

Small forward Ishmail Wainwright, who dropped a tournament high 36 points against Cape Verde, sits on top of the log as if to  warn Africa that Uganda is not here by accident with an average 21.3 points per game while shooting Robinson Odoch Opong who sits in third place is averaging 19 points per game. 

Enabu keeps them company close by with an average of 17.7 points per game in seventh place in a true manner of leadership and responsibility. For one who comes from a long line of basketball royalty in Uganda, this comes naturally to him. 

"All these guys are fighters and it shows in practice. When you train together, you get to understand each other. It is something that we have grown to rely on. The trust is built in practice so by the time we are going to the game, we know that maybe everyone will take care of what they are supposed to do. I do not feel that anyone feels that there is a lot of weight on their shoulders. Everyone has a job to do and they have to execute it to a certain extent."

Ismail Wainrigt made his debut for Uganda in November

For Enabu on an individual level, the journey to qualify for the AfroBasket is a chance to seek redemption and qualify for the premier basketball event on the continent after he and his charges at City Oilers failed to qualify for the inaugural Basketball Africa League that will be played in Kigali, Rwanda. 

"Losing in December 2019 in Kigali, I did not feel that we prepared well enough. After losing like that at the time, when you come back, it is like a second chance of sorts. You have to make the most of it because you do not get too many chances so it is extra motivation for me to make sure that we go to the AfroBasket which will also be in Kigali."

As a host nation, Tunisia has been kind to Uganda or at least to Enabu and Opong whose City Oilers finished fifth at the 2017 FIBA Africa Champions Cup in Rades. The two will be hoping that they replicate their fine form or even better it next month. 

Uganda's opponents know better than to think the Silverbacks are lightweight. 

"This is expected. After the way we performed and we put out what we needed to put out, now everyone knows that we can play like this. Coming back and working out and preparing for the next campaign, at the back of our heads, we know that we have to be better. There will be xs and os but at the end of the day, we have to go and show that we are actually better than we were in the first window."

"We have to use it to our advantage because the first time, people were sleeping on us and now they are more awake and in situations like this, when they expect us to play the way that we did, we can use it to our advantage. If they want to disrespect us still and say that it was luck then they are in for a surprise." 

Uganda open against Group E table leaders Egypt on February 18 before facing Morocco two days later and Cape Verde in the last tie on February 21 in Monastir, Tunisia. 

FIBA