Rwf120m needed for Hoops U-18 tourney

WITH the U-18 Zone V qualifying tournament just over a month away, the national basketball federation has received a timely boost from the Ministry of Sports and Culture that will provide Rwf120m for the organisation of the competition scheduled for July 17-22 in Kigali.Rwanda Basketball Federation chairman Desire Mugwiza told Times Sport in an interview that the U-18 players are training three times a week because, “Most of them are students but would enter residential camp on June 16 when more players based in the U.S arrive.”“The players train on Friday, Saturday and Sunday because we don’t want to jeopardize with their studies but we are working out a way to put them in residential camp starting June 16 after the arrivals of their US based colleagues,” Mugwiza said yesterday.The players expected to bolster the squad from the U.S include Adronis Rwabigwi, Ngenzi Eric, Manzi Danny, Karenzi Ronald, Twagirayezu Patrice, Ishimwe Norbert, Rutare Jonathan, and Shyaka Scifon.The week long competition will attract eight teams which include Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia and Burundi. The tourney will also feature a girl’s competition.Rwanda finished in 6th position in the previous edition but with Egypt having qualified, coach Nenad Amanovic will fancy his team’s chances.Meanwhile, the basketball league is now expected to start after the U-18 tourney. KBC won the championship last season but they are in for a long fight with APR coach Cliff Owuor vowing to claim this year’s championship.