UNIVERSITY of Rwanda’s College of Arts and Social Sciences women basketball club has pulled out of the forthcoming play-offs due to financial problems.

The Huye district-based side withdrew four days before the tournament kickoff. The development was confirmed by the Rwanda Basketball Federation technical director Didier Shema-Maboko on Wednesday. 

The withdrawal of the varsity side leaves three teams in the fray; namely; regular league champions Ubumwe BC, playoffs title-holders APR and Rwanda Allied Peace for Progress (RAPP), who will play each other on a round-robin basis, with the top team eventually being crowned champions. 

When contacted, UR-CASS team coach Charles Mushumba, said, "It’s true we won’t be taking part in the playoffs due to two reasons; first, our players are in holidays and, second, management told us that there is no budget for the tournament.”

In men’s category, the playoffs title will be contested by two-time winners Espoir, Cercle Sportif de Kigali (CSK), APR and United Generation Basketball club (UGB).

The playoffs tournament starts on Friday and will climax next weekend. All games will be played at Amahoro indoor stadium.