Mugabe eyes first Gisembe memorial title

Saturday Men UGB vs APR 1pmIPRC Kigali vs U18 boys 2pmPatriots vs IPRC South 3pm SundayIPRC South vs UGB 12pmEspoir vs IPRC Kigali 3pmAPR vs Patriots 5pm Women APR vs Ubumwe 10am AFTER GUIDING PATRIOTS to their maiden league title last week, point-guard, Aristide Mugabe has vowed to help his side lift their first Gisembe Memorial Tournament title. The tournament starts today and runs until June 10. On Sunday, the former Espoir point-guard won the hoops league title with Patriots in his first season. Before joining Partriots, he helped Nyamirambo-based Espoir club to win league titles in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. He also helped the club win two Gisembe memorial titles in 2014 and 2015 as well as the FIFA Africa Zone V Club Championships in 2012. Speaking to Saturday Sport in an exclusive interview, Mugabe said that the focus has been turned to this year’s Gisembe Memorial, and is ready to help his side claim the title as they prepare for the playoff games and the Zone 5 FIBA Africa Clubs Championship slated for August in Tanzania. “This is my first Gisembe tournament as a Patriots player and I need to help my team again claim silverware though this is always a tough competition,” he said Patriots are in Group B alongside United Generation Basketball (UGB), IPRC-South, and APR. Patriots will kick off their campaign today against the military side at UR College of Science and Technology ground. Meanwhile organizers Espoir, who won last year’s edition, are drawn in Group A alongside U-18 Boys’ team and IPRC-Kigali and will kick off their title defense against IPRC-Kigali on Sunday The annual tournament is held in memory of former Espoir player and Coach Emmanuel Ntarugera aka Gisembe, who was killed during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Mugabe eyes first Gisembe memorial title