When you arrive at Club Rafiki, the first thing you hear is the screech of sneakers on concrete, followed by the thud of basketballs and bursts of instruction from coaches. Young athletes, already drenched in sweat, battle for possession in fast-paced drills, while others sit quietly in the club’s library, reading in stark contrast to the intensity on the court. More than 500 young people pass through the facility each day to study, socialise and train in the sport they hope to master. Coaches move between groups with quiet authority, correcting posture, calling for passes and urging players to stay focused. Nearby, younger children lean against railings, watching older athletes train with a seriousness that belies the informality of the surrounding streets. The visit comes days after the Basketball Africa League (BAL) Finals at BK Arena, where RSSB Tigers were crowned champions before an enthusiastic Kigali crowd. The connection between that continental stage and neighbourhood courts such as Club Rafiki feels immediate. In Nyamirambo, the atmosphere is shaped not by polished hardwood floors and television lights, but by whistles, laughter and a steady stream of aspiring players inspired by the sport’s growing profile. A first encounter that changed everything For Samuel Niyonshuti, now 27 and playing Division One basketball for Azomco, Club Rafiki was an unexpected turning point. ALSO READ: How BAL is expanding basketball opportunities in Kigali Originally a football player at Kiyovu Academy, he was sidelined by a leg injury. During his recovery, a neighbour invited him to watch basketball at Club Rafiki. “I had never thought about basketball seriously,” Niyonshuti recalls. “But when I got there, coaches like Hashim Karuranga encouraged me to join. That was the beginning.” What drew him in was not only the game itself but the structure surrounding it. Coaches stressed discipline, academic performance and personal responsibility alongside athletic development. “They always told us talent alone was not enough,” he says. “You had to study, behave well and respect training. That discipline shaped many of us.” Over time, what began as curiosity evolved into a career. “Many of us came just to try it,” he says. “But you start to love the game and make it part of your life.” ALSO READ: Basketball: Rwandan youngsters have opportunity to win on and off the court Beyond basketball For Rehema Shaban, a basketball coach at Club Rafiki, the club’s influence extends beyond developing athletes. It has also helped shift attitudes toward girls’ participation in sport. “At first, many parents did not understand why their daughters should play basketball,” she says. “But when they see improved discipline, confidence and school performance, they begin to support it.” Although challenges remain, particularly in households where sport is not viewed as a priority for girls, Rehema says attitudes are changing. “Now we have girls who compete confidently, train alongside boys and dream of representing the national team. That was not common before.” ALSO READ: New girls' basketball programme to benefit 30 schools For her, coaching is as much about mentorship as it is about basketball. “You are not only teaching basketball,” she says. “You are shaping how they see themselves.” The system behind the success According to Omar Tony Nsengumuremyi, Club Rafiki coordinator, the institution was established in 1974 by the Congregation of Dominican Brothers to empower young people through sports, education and social development. “The goal was to bring young people together and give them a platform to grow,” he says. “Sport was one of the tools, but development was always the real objective.” ALSO READ: Sports sector to create more jobs as youth participation rises Over the years, the club has expanded to more than 16 programmes designed to respond to evolving youth needs. While much of young people's lives now unfolds online, Nsengumuremyi believes physical community spaces remain essential. “Today’s youth are highly connected digitally,” he says. “But they still need places where they can interact, learn and be guided.” Supported by partners including the Ministry of Youth and the City of Kigali, Club Rafiki continues to provide largely free access to young people, particularly those from vulnerable families. “Our focus is inclusion,” he says. From Rafiki courts to national dreams For Aimé Karim Nkusi, now a coach at APR Basketball Club, Club Rafiki played a defining role in his teenage years. “At first, my parents were hesitant,” he says. “But they later saw it helped me stay away from bad influences and remain focused.” The combination of school and training gave him structure and purpose. “We would go to school and then come straight to Rafiki to train. That routine kept us disciplined.” Rwanda basketball star Jean Jacques Nshobozwabyosenumukiza followed a similar path. “I was playing football before friends convinced me to join them at Rafiki,” he says. “That is where my basketball journey started.” Watching established players such as Aristide Mugabe and Ali Kubwimana Kazingufu inspired him to pursue bigger ambitions. “We would leave school and go straight to Rafiki,” he recalls. “Instead of getting involved in distractions, we focused on improving our game.” More than a sports facility Across the testimonies, Club Rafiki emerges as more than a basketball court. It is a community space that nurtures discipline, builds confidence and creates opportunities for young people from different backgrounds. According to Nsengumuremyi, its greatest achievement lies not only in the athletes it produces but also in the relationships it fosters among families, coaches and young people. “Sometimes a child meets another from a different background here, and they learn from each other,” he says. “That is part of the transformation.” Parents who were once sceptical now attend sessions and engage with coaches, strengthening the support system around participants. For Niyonshuti, Rehema, Nkusi and Nshobozwabyosenumukiza, Club Rafiki is remembered less as a place than as a turning point, where opportunity, direction and ambition took shape. As Kigali continues to produce continental champions and attract international attention, institutions like Club Rafiki remain among the less visible forces behind that success, nurturing not only talent but the environment in which it can flourish.
