The U18 boys national basketball team head coach Moise Mutokambali believes that the 2016 FIBA Africa U18 Championships to be staged in Rwanda presents a significant moment for the host nation. Kigali will be hosting the FIBA Africa U18 Championship for the second time since 2010, from July 22-31. Mutokambali hopes the hosts will seize the opportunity to push and develop the game a lot more than it did after welcoming Africa to Rwanda six years ago. Its a very big moment, a big challenge to show how good our players are, Mutokambali said of the event, adding that, We have to invest more time and resources to take Rwandan basketball to the next level. He further noted that, In 2010 when we organized the tournament, I dont think so many people were involved in basketball, but that has to change, parents should encourage their sons and daughters to start playing basketball.” Rwandas performance in the forthcoming continental event, he admits, will go a long way to attract more fans to basketball, a sport in which Rwanda, has over the years, had an edge over so many countries in Africa. This tournament is a good chance for people to see our young players and that basketball is at a higher level. It will be good for the whole country. We expect to finish in the top four. We really want to qualify for the FIBA U19 World Championship, especially because it’s taking place in Africa,” Mutokambali added. Mutokambali and his young lads will be aiming to go as far as the semi-finals and even reach the final, which would mean securing a spot in the 2017 FIBA U19 World Championships. If Egypt, who will host next years FIBA U19 Worlds - finishes in the top two in Kigali, then a third-place finisher, will also get a ticket to the Cairo tournament. Mutokambali confirmed there is a lot of excitement for the tournament outside the country as well. He said a number of players with Rwandan roots from North America and Europe have contacted him about being part of the team. We expect to call some of them and see what level they’re at and if they are fit enough for selection, he revealed. In 2010, Rwanda finished sixth after the fifth-place playoff game 71-73 against Gabon—in the quarter-finals, the hosts were defeated 86-47 at the hands of Tunisia. Lionel Hakizimana was the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
