SaturdayUGB vs 30-Plus SundayKBC vs 30-Plus The 2013/14 national basketball league season is scheduled to kick off this weekend with two matches, one on Saturday and the other on Sunday, Rwanda Basketball Federation has confirmed. Seven teams have so far submitted their players’ lists but only two matches involving three teams will be played. On Saturday, United Generation Basketball (UGB) and 30-Plus will kick off the new season, while former league winners, Kigali Basketball Club will play against 30-Plus on Sunday. Initially, the league had been scheduled to start two weeks ago but because most teams had not yet submitted their squads, it was postponed to this weekend. Four teams, two men and two women have pulled out of next season’s national basketball league, the teams include; the National University of Rwanda (men and women), Kigali Institute of Education (men) and Circle Sportif de Kigali (women). There’s only one newcomer in men’s league, Gisenyi Basketball Club. The teams that have registered for the new season include; Rusizi, Circle Sportif Kigali, United Generation Basketball, defending champions Espoir, former winners APR and KBC, newcomers Gisenyi Basketball Club as well 30-Plus (men), while APR, Ubumwe and Rwanda Allied Peace for Progress (RAPP). Meanwhile, American-based youngster Patrice Twagirayezu and Kami Kabange, who play for Ugandan club City Oil will be the only two professional players on the national team that will compete in Mozambique 38th independence anniversary tournament. Twenty-year -old Twagirayezu linked up with team last week, while former APR and Espoir forward Kabange is expected to join before the team departs for Mozambique on Saturday. The tournament which is scheduled for June 24-27 in Maputo will have only three teams; Angola, Rwanda and host Mozambique after South Africa withdrew. According to Coach Moise Mutokambali the tournament will be the part of the preparations of this year’s 27th African basketball championships scheduled for August 20-31 in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.
