Basketball in Africa

CSK are contended with the way things have unfolded five games into the 2010 national basketball league.

The Rugunga-based side now playing in their fourth season, has collected seven points from their opening four games.

After losing their league opener against this year’s surprise package KBC 60-92, CSK recovered to win their next three games. The team thrashed Kigali Institute of Education (KIE) 86-61 and Ferwaba select (76-54) but the highlight of their season so far is without doubt Saturday’s 63-60 thrilling victory over defending champions APR.

CSK came onto the scene in 2007 and stunned many when they reached the play-off finals that year only to lose to Marines.

The team has since failed to match that display after finishing fourth in 2008 and 2009. But with new recruits in Elibo Muhire (shooting forward), Bunene Kajeguhakwa (center) and the Espoir pair of Aristide Mugabe (point guard) and Léon Hakizimana (shooting guard), the side’s head coach Prosper Mihigo is finally seeing a light at the end of the tunnel.

In particular, Kajeguhakwa, who is an ex-APR and Marines player, has been inspirational for the side and currently has an average of 18 points.

“Muhire and Bunene bring in experience in the side. Their work rate in training and during games is also commendable,” Mihigo said of the pair.

This weekend, the league will be put on hold to pave way for the inter-university basketball games which are being held in honour of all those who perished during the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.

Some of the universities who had confirmed participation by press time included hosts KIST, National University of Rwanda (UNR), School of Finance and Banking (SFB), Mutara Polytechnic, Kicukiro College of Technology (KCT) and Kavumu College of Education among others.