Basketball in Africa

National senior basketball team is set to regroup on Saturday at La Palisse hotel ahead of the Fiba/African Championships for Men scheduled for August 20-31 in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
Initially the team was supposed to regroup on July 22 but it was pushed due to the two-day sub-zonal volleyball tournament that started on Thursday at Amahoro stadium indoors courts, where the hoops team would train from.
Another reason is the FIBA Africa level two coaching clinic the head coach Moise Mutokambali and his assistant John Bahufite attended. The clinic ran from July 15 to 24 at Amahoro stadium.
Intensive preparations start with only four professionals namely two USA-based Patrice Twagirayezu, Bradley Cameron and Daniel Primo Rugamba, who arrived yesterday evening with Thierry Sukusuku from France among nine that were named in the squad.
Canada-based Hamza Ruhezamihigo and Keneth Gasana from United States are expected to arrive in Kigali on July 29.
The only blip is the news that Thailand-based Brannon Darius won't make it for the national team to Ivory Coast because he is nursing a knee-injury and he is out of action for up to four weeks out according to coach Mutokambali.
"He (Brannon Darius) might miss out due a knee-injury and his doctor advised him to take a one-month rest. Others are yet to confirm whether they will make it or not but few professionals who already arrived in the country and local players are starting the camp Saturday (tomorrow)," he told Saturday Sport.
He added, "We are not targeting to perform miracles in Ivory Coast or to win the title but we will do everything to reach as far as possible in the competition."
At the moment, Cedrick Isom (Primeiro do Agosto, Angola), Dan Manzi and Adonis Rwabigwi (Tampa Bay, Florida USA) are yet to confirm their arrival.
Local players to start the camp are: Aboubakar Barame (CSK BBC), Jean Luc Girinshuti and Ali Kubwimana (Kigali BBC), APR's Sunny Munyandamutsa and Muhamed Rafiki, Lionnel Hakizimana, Pascal Karekezi, Arstide Mugabe, Olivier Muhizi, Olivier Shyaka and Placide Uwizeye ( Espoir BBC) plus Uganda-based Kami Kabange, who arrived on Thursday.
The 16-man squad will be training twice a day. Rwanda is drawn in Group B alongside defending champions Tunisia, Morocco and debutants Burkina Faso.
The national team starts the bid against Burkina Faso on August 21, take on Morocco on 23 before facing Tunisia on 25 August.