Mogas Falcons, the National basketball champions, are stuck with no money to enable them participate in the Ethiopian Tournament.
The team needs about 35 million shillings to meet the travel and welfare costs of the players.
The team has conducted a series of fund raising activities in Kampala. Some of the activities held so far are a dance night at Ange Mystique, Glamour and Fashion evening at Lugogo and a Globetrotters evening at Shoprite parking yard.
About 15 million shillings was raised from the activities. The fund rising drive The will climax with a dinner at Arirang Restaurant on October 24.
Elizabeth Nabatanzi Lugudde, a former advisor to President Yoweri Museveni, says that more effort is needed to raise money in support of the falcons.
The financial snag has however not deterred the team's spirit. Richard Malinga, the team captain is upbeat that the Falcons will be able to travel to Ethiopia to defend their title.
//Cue in: I feel this team#//
Cue out: #it will be up to us basically.///
Malinga, who is yet to win his silverware with Falcons since he joined them in 2001, says more emphasis is needed to develop the basketball sport.
//Cue in: Angola, the way#//
//Cue out: #guys with skill. ///
The Falcons ran into qualifiers after a 3-2 triumph over Kyambogo Warriors in the best of five final series last year.
Women champions KCC Leopards, runners-up A-1 Challenge and Warriors, will take part in the tournament set to attract teams from Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Sudan, Djibouti and hosts Ethiopia which is due for October 28 to November 1.
