The national basketball team head coach, Cheikh Sarr, has said that he will exclusively use local players during the upcoming qualifiers of the Women's Afrobasket tournament. The regional qualifiers are scheduled from February 14-19 at the Indoor Arena in Lugogo in Kampala, Uganda. Rwanda is among eight countries confirmed to take part at the qualifiers. Other countries include hosts Uganda, Egypt, Kenya, South Sudan, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Somalia. As the hosts of the final tournament that will take place in August, Rwanda has an automatic ticket to the showpiece and Sarr only wants to use the qualifiers occasion at the qualifiers to maintain a competitive shape for his players. The Senegalese tactician told Times Sport that he wants to “give a chance to the local players during the qualifiers to have experience in international games before they face a major test in August.” Sarr warned summoned players that they shouldn’t take the call up for granted but use the opportunity to defend the national team jersey, That's a privilege and an honor. Nothing is bigger than that. Wearing Rwandan jersey and fighting for the country is one of the best way to show pride and should not be taken for granted, he said. The team enters residential camp on February 2. The current squad will be joined by international players when the team returns for the final training camp in June. Provisional Squad Faustine Mwizerwa, Odile Tetero, Laurance Imanizabayo, Violette Uwimpuhwe, Ramla Munenzero, Rosine Micomyiza, Martine Umuhoza, Cecile Nzaramba, Chantal Ramu Kiyobe, Nicole Urwibutso, Assouma Uwizeyimana, Jane Dusabe, Jordan Umuhoza, Sandrine Rutagengwa, Nelly Akariza and Charlotte Umugwaneza.
