Kigali out of Inter-cities hoops tournament

A text message from the Kicukiro District Mayor Jules Ndamage to head coach of the Kigali City Council team Cliff Owuor yesterday morning confirmed the city’s non-participation at the ongoing Inter-cities basketball tournament in Kampala.Part of the message read, “I think it is impossible to go to Kampala because of preparation modalities which have delayed. Say sorry to our players. I will find time to talk to them.”This makes it a decade since Kigali last participated in the annual tournament that is organised by cities from over four countries across the zone to promote regional integration through sports, in this case basketball.“It is a disappointment that we are going to miss out on this tournament because we really wanted to take part and actually win the trophy,” a sad Owuor told Times Sport.The 12-man team that started preparations for this tournament over a month ago comprised of six national team players and clearly had a chance of lifting this title but, unfortunately, they have to wait for yet another year.The tournament, which started yesterday in Kampala, has attracted more than 12 teams in the men and women’s categories from different cities around the region including defending champions Nairobi, Dar-es-salaam, Mogadishu, Mbeya, Moyo, Gulu, Mukono, Mombasa, hosts Kampala and Hanshirya from Somalia.According to the event chief organiser in Kampala who is also an official in the Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA), Kigali’s absence from the tournament is a disappointment.

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Kigali out of Inter-cities hoops tournament