Espoir men and APR women basketball clubs depart to Kenya this morning aboard Kenya Airways for this year’s Fiba/Africa Zone V Club Championships. The 2014 edition gets underway on Monday and will run until August 31 at KPA Makande Hall in Mombasa. Hopefuls Espoir will be out to fight for the second regional title following their 2012 success in Kampala, while APR women will be vying for their first title. “I’m confident in my team and totally convinced that we have all the required tools to return home with the trophy. We have had good preparations and just need to keep focus on one game at a time,” Espoir coach Jean Bahufite told Saturday Sport yesterday. He said that last year in Bujumbura, they got carried away and lost focus which cost them the title after losing 65-56 to home side Urunani, a team they had smashed 90-39 to lift the previous year’s title in Uganda. On the other hand, APR women team will be fighting for their last chance of winning a trophy this year after bowing to Ubumwe BC in both the league and play-offs on the local scene. Espoir squad: Lionnel Hakizimana, Pascal Kerekezi, Aristide Mugabe (captain), Bienvenu Ngandu, Olivier Shyaka, Elie Kaje, Aboubakar Barame, Mike Buzangu and Steven Havugintwari Coach: Jean Bahufite Assistant coach: Maxime Mwiseneza APR squad: Chantal Akumuntu, Joseline Mugiraneza, Jovite Kabarere, Denise Uwase, Charlotte Mugwaneza, Sandra Kantore, Brandine Munyamberera, Vanessa Umwizerwa, Claudette Mugwaneza, Rosine Micomyiza, Cecile Nzaramba Coach: Charles Mbazumutimna Assistant Coach: Aime Karim Nkusi
