With only four days remaining until Rwanda Basketball League (RBL) playoffs start on June 20, United Generation Basketball (UGB) president Kenny Mugarura has expressed confidence in his team's ability to clinch the championship. Considered underdogs against formidable teams like APR, Patriots, and Rwanda Energy Group (REG) with whom they will face off in the playoffs, UGB is looking to defy the odds and win the league. ALSO READ: League playoffs 2025: A look at the four qualified teams This is UGB’s first playoff appearance at the playoffs in about five years. Speaking to Times Sport, Mugarura attributed their playoffs qualification to hard work and chemistry built within the squad. Our squad, with support from the coaching staff, strived to reach the playoffs.We didn’t start the league in a good position, but after all the adjustments made throughout the team, here we are, and our ultimate goal is to secure the trophy,” he said. He recognised the contribution of both the players and the coaching staff, praising Olivier Ndayiragije, the Burundian tactician whom the club appointed to it's helm mid-season after Yves Murenzi, it's former head coach, was given other duties. Ndayiragije is a relatively experienced coach, having handled a couple of teams in his native Burundi including Dynamo, a key entity in Burundian basketball. Ndayiragije first joined UGB as an assistant coach in 2024, but mid-season, he was promoted to head coach. In addition to the work done by the technical bench, the team also put more efforts in recruitment of players. One of their key signings is Ghanaian star James Amatoe, who has played a crucial role in their campaign. For instance, in a key game against Espoir in the run to the playoffs, Amatoe scored 25 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead UGB to a 93-88 win. Senegalese center Mohamed Doumbya is another important addition. An example of his contribution was in April where he tallied 18 points and 14 rebounds in a 78-71 win over Kepler. I see the love of the basketball game in Doumbya’s eyes; he has collaborated well with everyone. He is truly one of the good players we have, the club’s president remarked. When asked about potential additions to the squad ahead of the playoffs, and looking back at how UGB's young basketball project aims to develop future talent, Mugarura indicated that no major changes are expected. While he didn't specify who might be added. We want to use our current squad. Maybe there could be some small, slight changes, but fans shouldn't expect much. Today, among our key players,” he said. Mugarura further emphasized UGB's goal of raising and shaping young, talented players, highlighting Thierry Nkundwa, formerly with Tigers, and Gabriel Ndoba as promising prospects for the future of basketball. We're pushing harder to claim this championship, and in my personal opinion, Kayondo, one of our rising players, deserves the award for the Most Improved Player of the Season, he stated. I believe that others mentioned will also make it; it’s only a matter of time. ALSO READ: How Sunny Niyomugabo is turning the tables for Patriots BBC Although the playoff fixtures have not yet been officially released, UGB is widely anticipated to face powerhouse APR, currently in first place, in the semi-finals. These will be played in a best-of-five format. You can’t play so aggressively to reach the playoffs and think that is enough, Mugarura said. Many people see our goal ending at reaching the playoffs, but our aim now is to secure the trophy. We are hoping to do our best in these best-of-five matches in the semis, striving to continue to the final games, he added.
