APR women’s basketball club, Rwanda representatives at the FIBA Zone 5 women’s championships, will start preparing for the tournament on Wednesday, October 4.

The competition will take place in Kigali between October 28 and November 4, bringing together women’s basketball clubs from various African countries.

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Speaking in an exclusive interview with Times Sport on Monday October 2, Deo Nkurikiyinka, APR women’s interim coach said the players are currently on break, but on Wednesday, they should start preparing for the tournament.

"We will start training at the Lycee de Kigali gymnasium,” he said.

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The showpiece was initially scheduled to tip off on October 21 and run through 28, but FIBA Africa has announced that it has been pushed to October 28 through November 4.

Clubs from Uganda, Burundi, Tanzania, Kenya, South Sudan, and hosts Rwanda are expected in Rwanda for the competition.

The tournament acts as a qualifier for the 2023 FIBA Africa Champions Cup for Women which will take place in Egypt, from December 8 to 17, bringing together 10 women’s basketball clubs from all over the continent.

Rwanda expects to be represented at the tournament by APR and REG, the teams that finished first and second, respectively, in the 2023 season.

Confirmed teams:

Tanzania: Vijana Queens and JKT Stars

Rwanda: APR and REG

South Sudan: Nile Legends

UGANDA: JKL Lady Dolphins and UCU Lady Canons

BURUNDI: Gladiators

Kenya: Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) and Zetech University.