The national basketball team departs on today for Mozambique to compete in Mozambique 38th independence anniversary tournament, which is scheduled for June 24-27 in Maputo.Head coach Moise Mutokambali and his assistant coach Jean Bahufite named have boosted the squad with two professional players including American-based youngster Patrice Twagirayezu and Kami Kabange, who play for Ugandan club City Oil.The tournament will have only three teams; Angola, Rwanda and host Mozambique after South Africa pulled out.Other players that got the nod for the first time include; Espoir pair youngster Placide Uwizeye and Congolese-born Bievenu Ngandu, America-based Twagirayezu, APR duo Mouhamed Rafiki Sanny Niyomugabo Munyandamutsa.According to head coach Mutokambali the tournament will be the part of preparations for this year’s 27th African basketball championships scheduled for August 20-31 in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.Apart from Rwanda, giants Angola and hosts Mozambique also qualified to compete for the tournament“We want to use this tournament as part of the preparations, we will use only local players to see their level of playing on international level but we will go with two professionals including, Kabange and Twagirayezu,” Mutokambali told Saturday Sport.Full squad: Aboubakar Barame (CSK), Aristide Mugabe (Espoir, skipper), Placide Uwizeye (Espoir), Jean Luc Girincuti (UNR), Mouhamed Rafiki (APR), Patrice Twagirayezu (Ashiville Christian Academy-USA), Lionel Hakizimana (APR), Olivier Shyaka (KBC), Sunny Niyomugabo (APR), 10.Ngandu Bienvenu(ESP), Olivier Muhizi (Espoir), Kami Kabange (City Oil-Uganda).Other officials on the delegation include; head of delegation Jean Claude Mulingo, physiotherapist, Martin Uwimana and international referee Didier Shema Maboko.
