Odile Tetero: Rwandan medic starring on the basketball scene

If you watch basketball player Odile Tetero splashing her magic on the court, you could think that it is all she does in life. However, you would get surprised if you meet her treating people in Nyarugenge District Hospital where she works as an anaesthesiologist. It is hard to talk about top female basketball players in the country without mentioning the 25-year-old, a point guard who plies her trade with local side APR basketball club. Tetero also plays for the national team where she has put up good numbers. She was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2022/2023 Rwanda Basketball League (RBL) playoffs. A good handler of the ball, Tetero also boasts pace and physicality, making her a real force to reckon with on the court. ALSO READ: Tetero on her impressive start to Zone V games One of her recent top displays were in the FIBA Zone V women’s championship, in October 2023, where she posted 21 points in a game between APR and Gladiators, a Burundian club. In an interview with Times Sport, she shared the story of her journey, starting from Karongi District, Western Province, where she was born all the way to Kigali where she plays. Tetero began her educational journey at Gatwaro Primary School in her hometown, Karongi, before proceeding to College St Marie for Ordinary level. Later, she enrolled at Groupe Scolaire Officiel de Butare (GSOB) in Huye District, where she studied Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. In 2016, Tetero started studying anaesthesiology at University of Rwanda, and graduated in 2021. Post-graduation, she practised her medical skills at Nyarugenge Hospital, though she also continued regular basketball training at the top level. Standing at a 1.62cm, she has earned recognition as one of the best point guards in Rwandan basketball. Tetero's journey into basketball began in 2010, transitioning from playing football in her early years. I started playing basketball for fun at school, and a camp in Gisenyi became a turning point when Coach Jovithe Kabarere spotted me, igniting my passion for the game, she said. Her dedication continued as she joined Groupe Scolaire Officiel de Butare, where coach Charles Mushumba recognized her talent during a competition. This led to her participation in the Federation of East Africa Africa Secondary School Sports (FEASSA) games. Tetero's club career started in 2015 with the IPRC-Huye team under Coach Didier Bineza. She continued to play in the league, earning crucial experience and finishing fourth in 2016. ALSO READ: Zone V Women’s Championship: Tetero drops 21 points as APR edge Gladiators After a hiatus in 2017 due to college commitments, she signed with REG women's basketball in 2021, contributing to their first league title win. In 2022, she joined APR basketball on a two-year contract, helping them secure the championship in 2023 and earning the title of MVP of the playoffs. National duties Tetero made her international debut in 2019 during the Afrobasket qualifiers in Uganda. She was part of the Rwandan women’s national team during the Zone 5 Afrobasket qualifiers in 2021. She played a pivotal role in the team's fourth-place finish at the 2023 Women’s Afrobasket, showcasing her skills with averages of 1.4 points, 0.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game. Future plans, ambitions “I want to play basketball outside Africa because I believe it’s where every player dreams to play, and I hope in the near future, I will be there.” Tetero expressed her gratitude to all the coaches who guided her, specifically mentioning Aristide Mugabe, who played a significant role in her development and continues to support her progress on a daily basis. The hard-working athlete says her role model is Stephen Curry, the American professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors. She admires Curry's three-point shooting prowess.