Aristide Mugabe, a point guard for Patriots basketball club and the senior national team will go down in history as one of the greatest athletes the country has ever produced – an icon who inspired generations.
Mugabe’s trophy-laden journey can be traced back to 2012, the year he captained local side Espoir basketball club to the 2011/12 league title and the 2012 Fiba Africa Zone 5 Club Championship in Kampala, Uganda.
At the regional showpiece in Uganda, he was also voted as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament.
Ever since, over the last nine seasons in domestic basketball, Mugabe has won eight league titles with two different franchises – and at both sides as a team captain.
Arguably, Rwanda’s most decorated basketball player, Mugabe won four consecutive championships with Espoir basketball club from 2012 to 2015 before captaining Patriots to their first league title in 2016 – in his first season with the club, which he joined in November 2015.
After finishing second in the 2016/17 season, only after Rwanda Energy Group, Mugabe-inspired Patriots quickly rose back to dominance and the country has not known any other champion since 2018. They retained the title for a third consecutive year last Saturday.
Speaking to this publication in an exclusive interview on Wednesday, Mugabe, 32, said that his basketball journey has been – and still is – an exciting one and attributes his success to hard work and sacrifice.
"It has been an exciting journey, the game means a lot to me. That is why working hard and making all possible sacrifices to succeed has come so naturally. The desire to win pushed me to the best player that I could be,” said Mugabe.
"I stayed focused over the years, took care of my body and loved the hustle.”
Patriots skipper Aristide Mugabe (R) in action against his Rwanda Energy Group’s counterpart, Ali Kazingufu, during a past league game at Kigali Arena. / Photo: Courtesy
During his glorious seven-year stint with Espoir, between 2009 and 2015, Mugabe also racked several individual accolades. Besides his 2012 MVP trophy at the Zone 5 Championships, he was also the top-scorer of the tournament for the 2012 and 2013 editions. The latter was held in Bujumbura, Burundi, where Espoir lost to home side Urunani in the final.
The celebrated guard also claimed the MVP award for the 2013 Basketball National League and was twice recognized as the best player in the annual Heroes Basketball Cup.
However, Mugabe knows and insists that the teams that win titles, not individuals.
"I cannot get all the credits, as a captain, for the titles I have won over years. I was just lucky to be part of the winning teams and did my best to contribute. It has always been about teamwork.”
Shooting guard Lionel Hakizimana was Mugabe’s teammate at Espoir and Patriots before he switched to APR earlier this year. He describes his former captain as ‘a man with discipline and inspiring leadership’.
"I have fond memories with Mugabe as someone we shared some good moments. He is a good player, disciplined, and gifted with leadership that draws the best out of every teammate. He inspires everyone to be the best they can be, all through teamwork,” said Hakizimana.
He added: "From back in our days at Espoir and when we linked up at Patriots, we always challenged and pushed each other and that helped us to improve our game. I always cherish the good times we shared on and off the court.”
Though they only play together in the national team, Rwanda Energy Group (REG) point guard Wilson Nshobozwabyosenumukiza says that he has learned a lot from Mugabe.
"Mugabe inspires discipline and commitment, he is a natural leader. To be able to get where I am right now, it is to a great extent thanks to lessons I learned from iconic players like him.”