Henry Mwinuka has long established himself as one of Rwanda’s top basketball coaches, and he is now determined to prove his pedigree on the international stage—particularly in the Basketball Africa League (BAL). The Tanzanian tactician is eyeing history with RSSB Tigers, who recently qualified for the BAL Playoffs set for May 22–31 in Kigali. The team secured their spot after finishing top of the Kalahari Conference with a 4–1 record during the competition held in Pretoria, South Africa, in April. This marks Mwinuka’s first stint as a head coach in the BAL, having previously served as an assistant with Rwanda Energy Group (REG) in 2023. Despite the step up, he believes the experience is a natural progression. It's the same, because of the experience I've had for 20 years. I've been both an assistant coach and head coach for national teams. So it's normal, he said. Mwinuka began his coaching career in 2006 and has since built an extensive résumé, including serving as assistant coach of Tanzania’s national team in 2011 and briefly leading Rwanda’s national team in 2020 on an interim basis. However, he acknowledges that the BAL presents unique challenges, particularly with players coming from elite competitions such as the NBA G League. Before you coach players, you need to talk to them about your philosophy. The way you handle the team and the freedom you give them on court. That's the key, he explained. His approach is built on high-tempo basketball, emphasizing quick transitions and defensive discipline. I like to play high tempo basketball. First of all, let's pick the rebound, secure the rebound, go for transition. That's my key, he noted Then you play hard defence because it's a space basketball., the spacing is too wide, and as an individual, you have to play individual defence. Don't depend on someone who is going to help you on defence. So you play hard defence first, he noted. While stressing individual accountability, he also highlighted the importance of teamwork and support across the court. Looking ahead to the playoffs, Mwinuka expects a tough challenge despite his team’s strong showing in the conference phase. “We have to prepare with intensity. The playoffs will be very competitive,” he noted. His ambitions are clear—he is targeting nothing short of the title. ALSO READ: BAL 2026: Things that stood out at Kalahari Conference “I want to win. We’ve received incredible support from the Ministry of Sports, the federation, RSSB, and the country at large. That comes with pressure, but also motivation,” he said. Because you can't see the support like that and then you go for fun. So I want to reach the final, then anything can happen. But the hardest game is going to be the first game, the battle for the semifinals, he added. Mwinuka believes reaching the final is within reach, though he acknowledges the difficulty of the opponent ahead. “The first game in the playoffs will be the toughest because it determines whether you reach the semifinals. But once you get to the final, anything can happen,” he added. He also hinted at possible reinforcements ahead of the playoffs, with the team looking to strengthen key positions—potentially adding a center and a power forward.
