17 June 2008
RWANDA : APR, Marine Renew Rivalry
by Julius Mbaraga
Kigali
The recent rivalry between APR and Marine will be kept alight when the two clubs face off today at Kimisagara as the battle for this year's national basketball league continues.
APR's home court advantage will be in check when they host the reigning champions who are yet to lose a game on the road.
Like Marine, APR is still unbeaten in this year's league campaign with three victories against UNR, Espoir and BUG.
However, that run is under serious threat against the Gisenyi club that has been strengthened by a number of top players including APR's former forward Bunene Kajeguhakwa.
Bunene, who also featured for Rwanda last year's Zone v Championships and the Afro-basket competition, will be playing against his former club for the first time since his move early this year.
And the 2006 champions will have to be a lot tighter in the defense if they are shut down the swift Rwandan international forward.
"It is obvious that Bunene will be out to prove a point to us but we are ready for the challenge," APR's captain Chali Chali Kimanuka said.
Even without their zone V club championship hero Issa Ngoga, who is still nursing an ankle injury, APR's coach Cliff Owuor is certain that his club will walk away with the points.
"Of course Ngoga adds a lot of strength to the side but we still have enough quality to help us win this game," the ex Kenyan international said yesterday.
In the other weekend fixtures, last year's play-off beaten finalists, CSK A host Rusizi at Cercle Sportif courts while tomorrow, the champions (Marine) will again be in action against Espoir at Rafiki for their fourth game on the road.
Today
APR v Marine
CSK v Rusizi
Sunday
Espoir v Marine
Kigali
The recent rivalry between APR and Marine will be kept alight when the two clubs face off today at Kimisagara as the battle for this year's national basketball league continues.
APR's home court advantage will be in check when they host the reigning champions who are yet to lose a game on the road.
Like Marine, APR is still unbeaten in this year's league campaign with three victories against UNR, Espoir and BUG.
However, that run is under serious threat against the Gisenyi club that has been strengthened by a number of top players including APR's former forward Bunene Kajeguhakwa.
Bunene, who also featured for Rwanda last year's Zone v Championships and the Afro-basket competition, will be playing against his former club for the first time since his move early this year.
And the 2006 champions will have to be a lot tighter in the defense if they are shut down the swift Rwandan international forward.
"It is obvious that Bunene will be out to prove a point to us but we are ready for the challenge," APR's captain Chali Chali Kimanuka said.
Even without their zone V club championship hero Issa Ngoga, who is still nursing an ankle injury, APR's coach Cliff Owuor is certain that his club will walk away with the points.
"Of course Ngoga adds a lot of strength to the side but we still have enough quality to help us win this game," the ex Kenyan international said yesterday.
In the other weekend fixtures, last year's play-off beaten finalists, CSK A host Rusizi at Cercle Sportif courts while tomorrow, the champions (Marine) will again be in action against Espoir at Rafiki for their fourth game on the road.
Today
APR v Marine
CSK v Rusizi
Sunday
Espoir v Marine
# posted by afrbk : 13:26
