Basketball: Buoyant REG off to Egypt for inaugural AfroLeague

Rwanda Energy Group (REG) basketball club have set high ambitions for themselves at the upcoming inaugural edition of FIBA Africa Basketball League (AfroLeague), which runs from February 8 through 11 in Cairo, Egypt. The team depart Kigali on Tuesday afternoon aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight at 2pm. “We want to challenge for a spot in the knock-out stages, that is going to be our mission in Egypt,” REG head coach, Patrick Ngwijuruvugo, told Times Sport on Monday. REG qualified for the continental showpiece last August after finishing third at the 2018 FIBA Africa Zone V Club Championship in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. They will represent the Eastern Africa region along with two Egyptian sides Al Ahly and Smouha. Egypt will host Group C games, which will determine two teams that advance to the round of last eight. REG have been pooled in the same group with hosts and African powerhouse Al Ahly, Angola’s Primeiro de Agosto and Ferroviario da Beira of Mozambique. Ngwijuruvugo’s men start their group campaign against Ferroviario da Beira on Friday before taking on Primeiro de Agosto the following day, and Al Ahly on Sunday. “We have been drawn in a deadly group, but the good thing is that we are aware and we have prepared accordingly. We will approach every game as if it is our final,” the Burundian tactician further noted. The clubs that finish in the top two from each of the four groups will advance to the Elite eight round, which will mark the beginning of the knock-out stages. Meanwhile, REG have beefed up their squad with power forward Dan Manzi and star shooting guard Kenneth Gasana who have been in training with the national team ahead of the FIBA World Cup qualifiers due on February 22-24 in Ivory Coast. Full 15-man squad: Ali Kazingufu Kubwimana, Wilson Nshobozwabyosenumukiza, Benjamin Mukengerwa, Patrick Habiyambere, Kenneth Gasana, Herve Ikishatse, Dan Manzi, Chris Walter, Olivier Shyaka, Elie Kaje, Kami Kabange, Patrick Nshizirungu, Bienvenue Ngandu, Belleck Bell, and Kouassi Willy editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Basketball: Buoyant REG off to Egypt for inaugural AfroLeague