After arriving from the United States earlier this week, Gazelles forward Jamila “Zama” Nansikombi has wasted no time settling back into national team preparations, and she’s bringing with her a renewed sense of purpose.
Zama joined the team’s non residential training on Monday and admitted the transition from international travel straight into intensive training wasn’t easy.
“It’s been tough as expected,” she admitted, speaking to NBS Sport during their final local training session on Thursday morning, ahead of their trip to Egypt. “It’s hard to recover from travel and go straight into training, but I’m excited to be back.”
The former UCU Lady Canons star was a standout performer during the Zone V qualifiers, including a 15-point display in Uganda’s victory over Egypt.
She attributes her improvement to her experience in the USA, which she says has elevated her both physically and mentally.
“It was a tough experience at first, but necessary for my personal growth,” she said. “I learned a lot, especially mentally. I’m grateful.”
Zama watched from afar as the Gazelles shocked the continent at the 2023 Afrobasket in Kigali, nearly reaching the semifinals in their best-ever finish. That run, she says, set a new benchmark.
“We came from being a nobody to a somebody in such a short time. It was really motivating,” she said. “The standards are now set. We cannot afford to perform worse.”
With the Gazelles heading to Egypt for a focused camp followed by their journey to Ivory Coast, Zama believes the unity and hunger within the team will fuel a deeper push into the tournament’s final rounds.
Before the team’s departure, fans had a final chance to show support during an open practice session that started at 9 am at Lugogo.
