Basketball in Africa

The East and Central Africa Senior Basketball Challenge Cup will be played in Kigali, Rwanda, in December, Daily Monitor has learnt.

Regional body secretary, Ronny Owino, said the event would be held between December 6-10. Uganda's men are the defending champions whereas the Kenyan women are the reigning lady champions.

Both teams won their respective categories last year in Kampala when the tournament was co-hosted at Lugogo Indoor Stadium and YMCA Courts in Wandegeya.

Kenya, who are eager to reclaim the men's title from Uganda have already started training for the highly competitive games. All the 5 countries in the region are expected to participate in the one-week FIBA sanctioned event.The international governing body FIBA has also agreed to use the tournament as a qualifier for the forthcoming All Africa Games in Algeria.

Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) chairman, Agina Wesonga told media in a press release that the regional event would also be used to qualify teams for African Nations tournament.

During the event, referees shall be over 18 years but those above 35 will barred from officiating, according to the new international rules.