A two-week basketball camp taking place in Kigali is helping teenagers improve their skills while also developing confidence, leadership, and discipline. The camp, which began on August 4 and runs to August 15, engages 40 boys and girls aged 12 to 19 for daily training, team-building exercises, and mentorship sessions. ALSO READ: Youth basketball camp kicks off in Kigali The programme is run by Hoops Genesis Ventures (HGV), a sports development initiative started in India in 2015. In its fourth edition, the Kigali camp is nurturing a sense of community among young players. Innocent Kwizera, a professional coach and founder of HGV, launched the programme while living in India, over the years, and has grown it into an academy now serving hundreds of players annually. ALSO READ: Major youth basketball camp gets underway in Kigali When he returned to Rwanda in 2022, he brought the same approach, to use basketball as a tool to develop character, not just talent. “The goal has never been just to create players; it’s to build young people who can lead and take responsibility in sport and in life. Participants aren’t selected just based on skill. Coaches consider how players work with others, how they handle feedback, and how much they want to grow,” he said. Kwizera noted that each camp session is structured around team roles. Players rotate responsibilities, leading stretches, managing equipment, or helping coaches set up training. That structure gives each participant a chance to lead and contribute in different ways. He added that some of the camp’s earliest participants are now helping run it, mentioning a one Ian, 21, who joined the very first edition in 2022, who now manages Hoops Genesis Rwanda. Another youngster he mentioned is David, who was once too quiet to speak up in group sessions, but now coordinates equipment and helps younger players stay on track during practice. He noted that a three-on-three tournament featuring under-16 and under-19 age groups is scheduled for Saturday, August 9, at Lycée de Kigali (LDK) Gymnasium. “Parents are welcome to attend the tournament, which is part of my plan to open a full-time basketball academy in Rwanda next year,” he noted. Kwizera said that finding consistent training space is still a challenge. While Hoops Genesis works with FERWABA to use courts, scheduling and communication sometimes disrupt sessions. Kwizera is looking for more support from Rwanda’s Ministry of Sports to take the programme beyond Kigali. Last year, they held a girls-only camp in Rwamagana to bring sports to rural areas where opportunities are few. “In India, local businesses provide support by donating jerseys, shoes, and water bottles,” Kwizera said. “Here, we still depend on materials sent from abroad. The teenagers need transport, snacks, equipment, and even a few hours of volunteer time would make a difference. We need more involvement from local partners,” he said. Over the next two years, Kwizera plans to focus fully on developing basketball in Rwanda, not only by training players but also by building up coaches, referees, physiotherapists, and sports managers. “There is too much focus on developing players, but basketball is an entire ecosystem that requires growth across all areas.” One of the camp’s coaches this year is 18-year-old Daksha Nanjunda, who first joined Hoops Genesis as a seventh-grader in Bangalore at age 10. Daksha said the Kigali camp feels similar to the one in India because people show up every day, work hard, and support each other, and it feels like a family. He has gained experience beyond the court, noting that back in India, Hoops Genesis runs tournaments and manages local sports facilities. This taught him how to organize events, communicate with sponsors, and manage people, skills that apply to real life. This, he said, is the same mindset that runs through the camp in Kigali. Kim Umuhoza, 18, has been with the camp since its first edition and says the experience has changed her. “I have learned to be patient with myself and take things one step at a time, even on tough days. It’s not just about the game; it’s about how you carry yourself. The coaches talk to us when they notice if something’s off. They care.” Kim plays point guard and admires Rwandan-American player Destiney Promise Philoxy for her determination and leadership on the court. “Philoxy plays with heart, no matter the score. That’s the kind of leadership I want to bring.” Kim noted that the camp involves players in public speaking, creative activities, and time management exercises. Participants are encouraged to explore talents like singing, dancing, and playing instruments, helping them develop other talents and skills. One phrase from her coach stuck with her, ‘Make the ball your dance partner’, which has helped her stop being stiff on the court, adding that she started playing with rhythm and flow, which changed how she moved. Kim hopes to pursue basketball professionally, but noted that even if she doesn’t, the camp has left an impact, adding that discipline and consistency are habits she will carry into anything she does.
