The exodus of some key players and the recent departure of coach Henry Mwinuka has seen Rwanda Energy Group(REG) BBC come under intense criticisms from its own staff.
The likes of Jean Jacques Wilson Nshobozwabyosenumukiza, power forward Elie Kaje, as well as star- power forward Axel Mpoyo left the club late last year and moved to APR BBC.
The latest blow that REG has suffered is the sensational cross-over of head coach Henry Mwinuka to rivals Patriots on a two-year deal.
The Tanzanian tactician was the architect of REG&039;s two league titles (2021 and 2022) and back-to-back qualification for the Basketball Africa League (BAL), but now they will have to face life without him.
While such developments cast doubts over REG's future ahead of this season’s local league and the Basketball Africa League (BAL), the club management has come out to insist that "releasing a coach or players is normal in basketball as in other disciplines."
"It hasn’t affected at all the team’s operations and preparations towards winning the upcoming Rwanda Basketball League as well as the Basketball Africa League (BAL) and other tournaments. We are the champions and shall remain champions," the club said in a statement released Friday evening, January 6.
REG has over the past few weeks been on the market looking for players that will fill the void left by Nshobozwa, Kaje and Mpoyo although critics claim it won’t be easy to replace the trio.
Victor Mutabaruka, a center that APR had found surplus to requirements, and Jean de Dieu Umuhoza, a point guard who formerly featured for mid-table entity United Generation Basketball Club (UGB) are the two new names on the club's roster heading into the league that gets underway on January 13.
REG BBC will feature in the much-anticipated Basketball Africa League (BAL) tournament, slated for March 11, and, with the squad available at the club’s disposal, it is unclear if they will carry the nation's flag in a way that is satisfactory.
The club will need to do more transfer business if they are to match the level of Africa's elite clubs’ basketball.