The national basketball team interim coach Henry Mwinuka has named a provisional 22-man squad to start preparations for the Afrobasket qualifiers second window. The competition is scheduled to take place from February 17 to 21 in Tunisia. The summoned team includes a couple of surprise inclusions like US-based Dan Kimasa, and the IPRC-Kigali duo of Jean Paul Ndizeye and Bruno Nyamwasa who were last called to the national team in 2018. The qualifiers will be Mwinukas first major competition since he took over the head coach job, replacing Serbian Vladimir Bosnjak. Going into the showpiece, the Tanzanian tactician faces an uphill task of guiding the national team back to winning ways after the abysmal performance they showcased in Window 1 under the stewardship of Bosnjak. The country put up a poor show during Window one, finishing bottom of group D after losing to teams like Mali, Nigeria and South Sudan. There are five groups of four teams in the qualifiers for the continent’s biggest basketball event, and the top three in each pool will secure tickets to the finals tournament – also to be held in Kigali, Rwanda, from August 17 to 29, 2021. Full provisional squad: Hubert Kabare Bugingo (IPRC-Huye), Sano Gasana ( USA), Steven Hagumintwari (Patriots), Kenneth Herbert Gasana (USA), Jovon Filer Adonis (Patriots) , Kami Kabange (REG), Elie kaje (REG), Dan Kimasa (USA), Axel Mpoyo (USA), Prince Muhizi (UGB), Eric Muhayumukiza (IPRC-Huye), Dieudonne Ndizeye Ndayisaba (Patriots), Jean Paul Ndoli (IPRC-Kigali), Pascal Niyonkuru (APR) Others are Bienvenu Niyonsaba (APR), Jean Jacques Wilson Nshobozwabyosenumukiza (REG), Marius Tresor Ntwari (APR), Bruno Nyamwasa (IPRC-Kigali), Sedar Sagamba (Patriots), Asborne Shema (USA),Olivier Shyaka (REG) and Justin Uwitonze (IPRC-Kigali).
