Uganda to host FIBA Africa Zone 5 Basketball Championship

KAMPALA, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Uganda will host the Federation of International Basketball Association (FIBA) Africa Zone Five Championship that will see 11 nations battle for the trophy.

Countries expected in the competition to be held early next month include hosts Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Burundi and Egypt.

Defending champions Uganda will battle it out to retain the men's trophy in the tournament that will be held in the capital Kampala from Oct. 1-8.

Kenya's Kenya Ports Authority will be out to defend the women's title.

The competition for both women and men returns to Uganda after five years. The country hosted the 2012 edition.

"We are happy that FIBA through the African body has once again given Uganda this chance to host this big event that brings together the top teams in Zone 5," Ambrose Tashobya, the President of the Federation of Uganda Basketball Association (FUBA) told Xinhua on Wednesday.

Four time Ugandan League champions City Oilers have vowed to play their hearts out and retain the trophy in-front of their fans.

"Playing at home brings a lot of pressure, but we are training hard because our goal is to retain the trophy and qualify to play at the top African stage," said City Oilers tactician Mande Juruni.

The championship is a regional club competition that attracts the League champion teams from eastern Africa.