Basketball in Africa

The inaugural GJ (Dr. George Jones) sports medical center basketball tournament that was scheduled to run from February 13 to 16 at Nyayo indoor stadium in Nairobi, Kenya has been called off over reports of insecurity in the host country.

The development was confirmed by team’s head coach Jean Bahufite. The club received an official letter calling off the event on Thursday evening.

Rwanda’s reining champions, Espoir had been invited to take part following two successful years that saw the Nyamirambo-based side win both the league and play-offs titles as well as one Fiba Africa Zone V club championship title.

“It’s true the tournament was cancelled over security concerns in Kenya currently. Al Shabab has carried out attacks in Kenya recently and organisers did not want to expose participants to such risk,” Bahufite told Saturday Sport yesterday.

The first edition of the tournament was supposed to attract seven African and two overseas countries namely: Uganda, Burundi, hosts Kenya, South Sudan, DR Congo, Tanzania, Rwanda, Philippines and India.

Meanwhile, point guard Mike Buzangu is close to signing for the two-times reigning league champions after agreeing terms to cross from rivals Kigali Basketball Club. Espoir president Fidel Rutagarama said, “We have agreed on terms with the player but he is yet to put pen on paper, in a weeks-time the deal will be done and we will officially announce whether he signed for us or not.”

The team has also signed two youngsters namely Edmond Mujyarugamba from La Colombiere and Jean Philip Kubana Tubane from Saint Aloys Rwamagana.