Basketball in Africa

Today
IPRC-Kigali vs APR 10am
CSK vs Patriots 12pm
Sunday
UR-CASS vs Rusizi 10am
IPRC-Kigali and APR will be seeking for a positive start when the two square off in their first game of the season in the national basketball league on Saturday at the National Paralympics Committee gymnasium at Amahoro stadium.
APR, who are looking for their first league title in six years, have strengthened their squad with new players during the transfer window and head coach Cliff Owuor is confident this is time for his young guns to shine.
The Kenya-born trainer said, “It is high time we start winning trophies, I have been building this team for six years now and I’m convinced we are up to standards.”
“We’re a big club and so we should be title contenders every season, the task for this season starts on Saturday (today) against IPRC-Kigali,” he added.
IPRC-Kigali technician Albert Buhake admitted how tough it will be against the former champions, but insisted his side can overcome anyone in the league.
The Kicukiro-based Integrated Polytechnic Regional Centre (IPRC) Kigali are the only side who managed to beat reigning league and playoffs champions Espoir in last season’s regular league.
Elsewhere, today, Rugunga-based Cercle Sportif de Kigali (CSK) will be up against title hopefuls Patriots at the same venue. Patriots will be under new head coach Henry Mwinuka. The Tanzanian took over from Cyrille Kalima, who stepped down last week, citing work-related commitments.
The 2015/2016 season kicked off last weekend with two games. Holders Espoir beat UR-CASS 89-65 while IPRC-South overcame United Generation Basketball Club (UGB) 89-45.
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