08 December 2006
RWANDA : Senior basketballers challenged
By JULIUS MBARAGA
The National basketball team has uphill task ahead of the Zone V basketball Championships that are programmed for early next year in Kigali, Rwanda. Following the U-20 national team’s remarkable display in the just concluded ANOCA (Association of National Olympic Committee of Africa) games that were staged in Nairobi, Kenya, the seniors have a lot of prove.
The juniors arrived yesterday aboard a regional coach and were warmly welcomed by the National Basketball Federation (Ferwaba) after claiming a silver medal in the competitions after falling to Egypt (87-62) in the finals.
Not only will the national side encounter pressure from the fact that the juniors did a commendable job while in Kenya, but also because Rwanda will be hosting the competitions.
“It’s always a great advantage when you are hosting a given event because in most cases, you have all support from the home crowd and also are familiar with the conditions in your country. Therefore, there is no doubt that the locals expect a good performance from our two sides (men and women),” an official from Ferwaba noted.
In the Zone V competition, Rwanda will encounter opposition from Uganda, Kenya, Burundi, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, Djibouti, Zanzibar, Sudan, Tanzania and late entrants, Egypt.
In the competition, Rwanda will field both men and women basketball teams.
The National basketball team has uphill task ahead of the Zone V basketball Championships that are programmed for early next year in Kigali, Rwanda. Following the U-20 national team’s remarkable display in the just concluded ANOCA (Association of National Olympic Committee of Africa) games that were staged in Nairobi, Kenya, the seniors have a lot of prove.
The juniors arrived yesterday aboard a regional coach and were warmly welcomed by the National Basketball Federation (Ferwaba) after claiming a silver medal in the competitions after falling to Egypt (87-62) in the finals.
Not only will the national side encounter pressure from the fact that the juniors did a commendable job while in Kenya, but also because Rwanda will be hosting the competitions.
“It’s always a great advantage when you are hosting a given event because in most cases, you have all support from the home crowd and also are familiar with the conditions in your country. Therefore, there is no doubt that the locals expect a good performance from our two sides (men and women),” an official from Ferwaba noted.
In the Zone V competition, Rwanda will encounter opposition from Uganda, Kenya, Burundi, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, Djibouti, Zanzibar, Sudan, Tanzania and late entrants, Egypt.
In the competition, Rwanda will field both men and women basketball teams.
# posted by afrbk : 15:40
