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There have been improvements since then, in the 86-85 win over Egypt on Wednesday, where she contributed 10 points and six rebounds and Thursday night’s 74-53 victory over South Sudan, in which she had a double-double of 18 rebounds to go with 10 points.
Maria Najjuma is one of the players who excited Ugandans the moment the final national women’s basketball team, Gazelles list for the Fiba Zone V AfroBasket Qualifiers was announced.
The former U16 star is still a work in progress but has had the opportunity to be part of the NBA Academy and is now in high school in the US.
Certainly, one expected to have a long career with the Gazelles in future. Her senior debut in front of the home crowd could have been better, much better.
But that can be attributed to so many things. First, she is only 19 and was making her debut. Then she didn’t have enough time to train with the rest to forge chemistry before the tournament.
The centre only joined the team last Sunday and had one day to train with the team before Uganda’s first game of the tournament against Kenya.
Six points and nine rebounds was her contribution in 26 minutes as the Gazelles fell 61-53 to the Lionesses.
There have been improvements since then, in the 86-85 win over Egypt on Wednesday, where she contributed 10 points and six rebounds and Thursday night’s 74-53 victory over South Sudan, in which she had a double-double of 18 rebounds to go with 10 points.
“I played defence and I have been communicating well with my teammates,” Najjuma said after the Gazelles second win of the tournament.
“I have been doing what the coach told me to do and that’s why we won, it’s good to work with your teammates,” she added.
Known for her rebounding prowess since her U16 days, Najjuma has clearly polished her offensive game and can be dangerous around the rim. She picked 11 offensive rebounds against a South Sudan side that was much bigger in size compared to Uganda.
Up next for the Gazelles is a clash with Rwanda on Saturday, a game head coach Alberto Antuna can be expected to experiment a few things and give some of the fringe players some minutes on the floor.
Rwanda, already qualified for AfroBasket as hosts, are in the tournament for preparations and their results will have no bearing on the final standings.
And with Friday being rest day for Uganda after three consecutive days, Antuna will be hoping to have a fresh and rested Gazelles for Sunday action which will either be a decider for the sole ticket to AfroBasket or a third-place playoff depending on the rest of the results involving Kenya and Egypt.
“I need to pick more rebounds. I need to communicate a lot more, do what the coach told me to do and work with my teammates to win that one too,” Najjuma said ahead of the Rwanda game.
Rwanda have already lost to Kenya and South Sudan. They face Egypt on Friday before Saturday’s game with the hosts.
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