The Nile Conference games of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) 2025 comes to close on Sunday, May 25, at BK Arena, bringing together four teams. Two automatic playoffs slots are up for grabs in Kigali with four teams—APR, Al Ahli SC, Made By Basketball (MBB) and Nairobi City Thunder (NCT—all leaving it on the flour, pushing for a qualification to the BAL playoffs and finals in Pretoria, South Africa, in June. Times Sport talked to local coaches and players to share their view on what it means to host such a big event for the domestic league. Aristide Mugabe (played BAL with Patriots) I think it is not much for the league, instead for our local players, they get a chance to see the exposure they get if they become great players, and it's a motivation for them to keep working hard and know what are the challenges and competition waiting for them ahead. But I also would say the league (federation, referees and media,) they get an opportunity to experience how to prepare a high competition environment, what does it take, how does it look like and also it brings a lot of expert to share the knowledge in all departments of the game, coaches, referees, future professionals, ball for her. Innocent Mugisha, youth coach When you watch these games, they are on high standard which means it will help us to build strength in thinking and building the game plan in our everyday schedule. We learn a lot by watching this competition and we are happy to have it in Rwanda. John Bahufite, basketball coach It is a very positive experience for us (coaches) to watch this kind of event in terms of standards of the game, where you learn many things. What we gain from the BAL is big teams, coaches and players in terms of organizing as team and chatting with big names and we apply during our playing matches. Olivier Turatsinze, basketball player with Kepler There’s always something remained in our mind as players, we learn by seeing so it is always very good for us to hosting the event and also to attend where we learn drubbings and tricks for the game, how to handle the big matches so it is always good for the players to watch such games. This is big platform for a player who wants to reach far, we have big names, so we learn from them and we always want to imitate them when they are around us. Charlotte Umugwaneza, APR women player For me to host this League (BAL) has a significant positive impact on the local league even on the country. It brings international attention to the country’s basketball scene, boosts the popularity of the sport locally, and inspires young talent. It also provides local players and coaches a chance to learn from top-level competition. Economically, it can attract sponsors and investments that benefit both the BAL and the domestic league. Overall, it raises the standard and visibility of basketball in the host country. The Top 8 teams qualifying from the three conferences will travel to Pretoria, South Africa, for the playoffs which will be played on a knockout basis (quarterfinals, semifinals and then finals) from June 6.
