Basketball in Africa

BY JULIUS MBARAGA

Rwanda dates Uganda in opener
Opening ceremony 5:30pm

Men
Rwanda v Uganda 6pm

Women
Rwanda v Uganda 8pm

Host nation Rwanda opens her Zone 5 qualifiers campaign this afternoon with a tense clash against rivals Uganda at Amahoro’s newly refurbished Indoor Stadium.

The game will start shortly after the grand opening ceremony which is expected to be graced by Rwanda’s Sports Minister Joseph Habineza amongst other high level government officials.

Both teams have a lot to play for as the top two sides in the round-robin tournament are guaranteed automatic slots in this year’s African Nations basketball championships in Libya.

However, two games are on schedule this morning although the teams involved were not yet known by press time. Meanwhile, after leaving many guessing, the national men’s coach Kavedzija Vaceslave finally named his final squads for the qualifiers.

The Croat coach made five changes from the side that took part in the 2007 Zone 5 qualifiers and believes that the team has enough grit to qualify for the African championships.

The new faces in the side are Mathew Miller, Mike Buzangu, Kami Kabange, Amandin Rutayisire and Serge Kabangu. The qualifiers expected to run from April 24-March 1 have attracted nine teams.

In the ladies fray, Rwanda will contend with defending champions Kenya, Uganda and Burundi. On the other hand, the men category pits Rwanda with defending champions Egypt, Kenya, Uganda and Burundi.

Men’s team: Mathew Miller, Mike Buzangu, Fiston Muhire, Karim Aime Nkusi, Gaylord Ndugu, Aboubacar Barame, Kami Kabange, Robert Thomson, Bunene Gedeka Kajeguhakwa, Hamza Ruhezamihigo, Amandin Rutayisire, Serge Kabangu.

Women’s team: Clementine Matungano, Alice Muhongerwa, Jovite Kabarebe, Shaban Rehema, Joselyne Munyaneza, Claudette Imanishimwe, Francine Karigirwa, Sandra Uwase, Mireille Karangwa, Honoree Ayebare, Laetitia Mahoro, Sabine Mugeni.