Bank of Kigali (BK) and Rwanda Energy Group (REG) basketball clubs have been approved by the Rwanda Basketball Federation (FERWABA) to compete in the national league starting with the 2016/17 season, which starts next month.

The two clubs had their respective requests approved during a FERWABA general assembly that took place on Sunday at Amahoro Indoor Stadium. 

Also re-admitted back into the league is Kimisagara-based 30-Plus, taking the total number of league clubs to 12. 

"Both clubs (BK and REG) requested to be members of FERWABA and they have been officially admitted and will compete in the national league come next season,” said FERWABA president Desire Mugwiza. 

He said that, "This is another step forward in terms of developing the game in Rwanda because the bigger the number of teams competing in the league, the better as far as developing the sport is concerned.” 

BK has been competing in the Corporate League, which they have dominated since 2013. 

Bank of Kigali basketball club will look to build their team around former Espoir shooting guard, Lionel Hakizimana, who quit the former national league champions last month. 

Meanwhile, the U18 boys team that featured in the league last season as they prepared for the 2016 FIBA Africa U18 Championships that was eventually staged in Kigali in July, ceased to exist after most its players were recruited by other clubs while five others got scholarships to study in the United States. 

The date for the 2016/17 basketball league kick-off will be announced after the next general assembly, scheduled November 6, officials said.

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