Topflight side Kigali Titans has forfeited their opening game of the basketball league season against Orion basketball club that was scheduled at Lycée de Kigali Gymnasium on Sunday. February 11, due to reasons centered on “over-delayed” arrears, Times Sport has learned.ALSO READ: Hoops: Iyakaremye powers new-look UGB past EspoirTimes Sports understands that the team is currently grappling with financial issues, coupled with previous operational hurdles at club level.Arrears owed by Kigali Titans date back in 2023 when the team failed to pay Lycée de Kigali Gymnasium rent costs.The team could also potentially fail to pay new season registration fees as well as transfer fees particularly for international players.ALSO READ: BASKETBALL: Filer drops 27 points as APR outplay KeplerIt is reported that the team owes the local basketball governing body, Ferwaba, over Rwf3,700,000 and failure to cover the arrears could potentially lead to the disqualification from the tournament.Ferwaba Executive Director Fiona Ishimwe told Times Sport that it would take at least three forfeited games for a team to be disqualified indefinitely from the league.ALSO READ: Kigali Titans: What you need to know about the ambitious topflight newcomersWhile financial issues have for long hit Kigali Titans, Ishimwe said that Ferwaba is in direct talks with the team’s management to solve the matter in time to prevent them from being disqualified.Management “unhappy”Speaking to Times Sport in a phone call interview, Kigali Titans proprietor Eugene Rubonera confirmed that he was informed about the forfeit (Vs Orion) on Saturday afternoon, February 10.Rubonera claimed that the decision was the “last thing we expected from them (Ferwaba)” considering that his team was ready and committed to paying in installments, an alternative that Ferwaba turned down.“We had told them that the priority was on assembling the team and clearing out financial issues. This is the least we expected from them,” he said.Going forward, he added; “We are committed to the league, and we are also willing to contest such an arrangement in the future.”As a result, Orion were awarded a 20-0 win.
