Gazelles assistant captain and a vital cog in the national side’s frontcourt, Hope Akello, believes the team is on the right trajectory ahead of their departure for the final Afrobasket training camp in Egypt.
Speaking to NBS Sport during their last home-based session at Lugogo on Thursday morning, the JKL Lady Dolphins centre commended her teammates’ intensity despite the physical toll of back-to-back sessions.
“Our bodies are a bit fatigued, but we’re pushing through,” Akello shared. “The girls have shown great commitment, and I want to thank them for putting in the work.”
Akello, who played a key role during 2023’s historic run in Kigali where Uganda finished 7th, highlighted that the team is placing greater emphasis on defensive discipline, rebounding, and communication in this year’s build-up.
“We’ve identified areas we must improve, especially defensive rebounding and communication,” she said.
“Coach Nick has really emphasized these, and I believe this Egypt camp will allow us to focus and polish these areas further.”
The inclusion of her club teammate Evelyn Nakiyingi in the national setup was another development Akello was excited about.
“I’m happy she’s back. She’s young but experienced and very talented. Her IQ and ability to steal the ball will really help us.”
For Akello, the camp in Egypt offers a chance to shut out life’s distractions and fully embrace the team’s mission.
“Here you have work and other things bothering you,” she explained. “Egypt will help us concentrate solely on the tournament.”
Gazelles head coach Nicholas Natuhereza echoed Akello’s sentiments, saying that the Egypt camp is aimed at not only for match practice but also for isolating the squad from distractions.
“We’ve told the players it’s important for us to have time away from all the noise and just focus for three weeks,” said Natuhereza.
The team will kick off their stay in Egypt with a stop in Cairo, where they’re scheduled to play three friendly games between July 12 and 15 against Egypt, Rwanda, and Cameroon.
They will then move to Alexandria for a residential training camp running until July 24, before heading to Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, where the Afrobasket tournament begins on July 26.
