ESPOIR BASKETBALL CLUB coach Jean Bahufite has challenged his two-time reigning champions to break the club record of three national league and playoff titles in a row.

The new league season is scheduled to get underway next weekend, but before that the Rwanda Basketball Federation has organised a pre-season tournament, scheduled to run from today (Friday) through Sunday. 

The three-day tournament will be played at Amahoro indoor stadium court and is open to all league teams.

"We have built probably the strongest Espoir team ever, which can perform on a high level. We have everything in place to make sure that we have another successful season,” Bahufite said.

The former Espoir and national team player added that the target is to win the league title again.

"It’s a record that we are determined to try and achieve, this club has done it before and I am sure we can do it again,” he added.

Espoir set the record of winning the league title three times in a row from 2003 to 2005 and that was equaled by their archrivals APR in 2006, 2007 and 2008.

According to Bahufite, the two-time reigning league and playoff champions are planning to use the pre-season tournament, to send a message to their rivals about what to expect when real business starts next weekend.

"We are determined to win this tournament, we have prepared well,” Bahufite told Times Sport on Thursday.

The Nyamirambo-based club has won the league and playoffs titles for the past two consecutive seasons and Bahufite is keen to see his team continue dominance in the new season.

Meanwhile, Espoir has signed two teenagers Jean Philip Kubana Tubane and Edmond Mujyarugamba from St Alloys Rwamagana and Green Hills Academy respectively. 

Last week, the club bolstered their squad with the acquisition of one of the best players in league Mike Buzangu from rivals Kigali Basketball Club.