Rwanda U-16 national basketball teams coaches (boys and girls) have signed two-year contracts, according to the Rwanda Basketball Federation president Desire Mugwiza. The coaches were operating without contracts.

Former Kicukiro BC and KIE player, Albert Buhake, 43, is in charge of the boys’ team and is assisted by Jacques Bahige, while Charles Mushumba coaches the girls’ team and has two assistants, Dusabimana Eric and Espérance Mukaneza.

Rwanda U-16 boys’ team qualified for the continental championships for the first time after defeating Ethiopia in the Zone V qualifiers that attracted only two teams last month at Amahoro indoor stadium.

The girls’ team qualified for the Afro-basket tourney without playing the Zone V qualifiers after the other member countries failed to send teams.

Speaking to Times Sport on Wednesday, Mugwiza confirmed that, "We have given both coaches contracts running until 2017 because we want stability but also the teams to be well prepared ahead of FIBA Afro-basket tournament in Mali.”

Bahake played for then national league side Kicukiro BC from 1997 to 2000 before he joined KIE from 2000 to 2005. 

He was called onto the provisional national team squad that was preparing for the FIBA Africa Zone V (now Zone V) in 2003 but didn’t make the final team.

Mushumba said, "Rwanda Basketball Federation have made a good decision to give us contracts, but what is most important is to prepare these young players well for a bright future.”

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