Sports

THE local basketball federation (Ferwaba) has asked for patience in a bid to effectively build strong structures that will help elevate of basketball in the country.

I don’t think relying on foreign players for immediate results for continental glory is a better solution

As the federation looks to qualify their junior teams in a two-day Zone 5 U-18 qualifiers this weekend at Amahoro indoor stadium, the newly elected committee believes that success can’t be built overnight, thus calling for hard work and patience.

The local basketball federation boss Désiré Mugwiza said in a news conference last week, “I don’t think relying on naturalised players for immediate results for continental glory is a better solution,”

“We are going to rely and put more investment on nurturing local players so as to have strong youth levels that will competitively win regional and international competitions for a much longer period,” added Mugwiza.

In the past, Rwanda has largely relied on naturalised players to represent the country in both zonal and FIBA competitions, a feat which helped the country finish ninth in the last edition of the FIBA Senior Afrobasket championships.