RWANDA Basketball Federation has indicated that it plans to reduce the number of foreign players in the national league effective this season.According to the body’s Secretary General Richard Mutabazi, the move is aimed at promoting local players for the good of the national team.When the proposed policy takes effect, Mutabazi said, all league clubs will be allowed to field only two foreign players.The official revealed that the federation is working together with the clubs to make sure the policy is implemented without any difficulties.In the past, like the country’s football clubs, local basketball teams have largely relied on many foreign players but the federation wants that to change starting this season which is scheduled to kick off at the weekend.“This will give local players more playing time, something they have been deprived of in the past,” Mutabazi told Times Sport.He added, “I think no Rwandan can be happy when our teams use just foreign players, leaving home-grown talents to rot on the sidelines.” And Mutabazi admitted, “We have been work¬ing hard to set new and clear rules to avoid ambiguity and we hope to have a thrilling and competitive league this time round.”The fixtures for the new season are already out. Newcomers 30-Plus will make their league debut against the defending champions Kigali Basketball Club (KBC), while CSK will host APR. Kigali Institute of Education will start their campaign against UGB, while Espoir will meet Rusizi on the first day.On Sunday, KBC play against Rusizi, Espoir host National University of Rwanda, while KIE will be entertaining CSK, with UGB playing APR.
