RWANDA NATIONAL men basketball team head coach Moise Mutokambali has named the final 12-player squad for the forthcoming Fiba/Africa Zone V Championships.

The team left the country for Uganda last night aboard RwandaAir at 8:20pm ahead of the regional meet set to kick off on Monday and run until September 28 at Lugogo Arena in the capital Kampala.

The week-long tournament, which also serves as the 2015 Fiba/Afro-basket and All Africa Games qualifier, is expected to attract Zone V countries namely; Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, Egypt (reigning champions) and hosts Uganda.

The squad includes three professionals and nine local players, but before departure, Mutokambali said his target is to reach the final and qualify for next year’s Africa basketball championships finals to be staged in Tunisia.

The 2015 All Africa Games will be hosted in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo. Rwanda will have to defy odds and overcome overwhelming favourites Egypt for the single ticket available for Zone Five.

Final 12-man squad:

Home-based players: Aboubakar Ally Barame (CSK), Ali Kazingufu Kubwimana (KBC), Sanny Niyongabo Munyandamutsa (APR), Steven Havugintwali (IPRC-Kigali) and Espoir’s Aristide Mugabe, Lionnel Hakizimana, Pascal Karekezi Rurangirwa, Elie Kaje and Olivier Shyaka.

Professionals: Kenneth Herbert Gasana (Al Wakrah- Qatar), Kami Kabange (City Oilers- Uganda) and Bradley Cameroon from South Bend, Indiana City- USA.

Head coach: Moise Mutokambali;

Assistant coach: Albert Buhake.