Ubumwe Women Basketball Club have signed two new players ahead of the 21st Fiba Africa Zone Five Club Championship slated for October 4-11 at Amahoro indoor stadium in Kigali.

Preparing to make their debut appearance at the annual tournament, Ubumwe, formed three years ago, have re-signed forward Priscilla Dodo from the US, who played for the team two seasons ago and Nicole Urwibutso from UR-College of Arts and Social Sciences.

According to the Rwanda Basketball Federation (FERWABA) officials, such reinforcements are allowed and certified by FIBA, the world basketball governing body.

Ubumwe, won the local women’s league in 2014 and finished second to APR last season. The team has also been boosted by the return of American-born Lisanne Comeau, who arrives in Kigali this afternoon from the US.

The energetic point-guard has been at the club since last October. Dodo is expected to jet into the country on Thursday.

Charles Mushumba’s team has been preparing for the week-long regional competition since late August at KIST courts as well as Amahoro indoor stadium.

"Our preparations are going on well; we expect Dodo and Comeau this week, their arrivals will be a massive boost for the team in terms of motivation and confidence. Our target is to reach at least the semi-finals,” Mushumba told Times Sport on Monday.

FIBA Africa Zone Five Club Championship is contested by winners and first runners-up from national leagues of member countries namely; Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and Kenya, although the organisers expect Egypt to send a women’s team.

Urunani (Burundi) and USIU (Kenya) are the defending champions for the men and women titles respectively. Last year’s edition was held in Mombasa, Kenya