Some might think that Kepler University secured a promotion to the topflight basketball league as just another club making the grade. However, a keen look at the team's organisation, ambitions and plan reveals an entity that may soon rock Rwandan basketball.
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Besides a decent plan for recruiting able tacticians and talented players, the college is working on putting in place proper infrastructure, something that has been a sticking issue for many clubs in the country.
In an interview with Times Sport, Kepler CEO Nathalie Munyampenda, did not shy away from admitting that they have big ambitions in sports considering the opportunities that are up for grabs for youngsters aspiring to venture into basketball.
"We see sports as a career, a well-paying career that they must train, of course, competitively and physically. It&039;s an opportunity to blend education and sports so that our athletes are studying, progressing and, when they stop playing, there are other careers in sports,” she says.
Munyampenda envisions the integration of education and sports not only to foster player development but also nurture professionals in various roles such as executives and commentators within the sports industry.
"It is an opportunity for the young people at Kepler to have careers in sports in the entire ecosystem,” she says.
"We're interested in competing and winning. We are very ambitious in that sense, but the underlying mission is really to offer an opportunity for young people to be able to do sports as a career."
Ready for the topflight challenge?
As topflight newcomers, a new challenge now awaits Kepler: rubbing shoulders with the country’s basketball heavyweights when the league gets underway in early 2024.
Kepler comprises a mix of student athletes and professional players and Munyampenda says they are ready to compete and have targets to hit. The team targets to reach the play-offs in its debuts season on the league, then, in the second one, the stakes will go as high as fighting for the trophy itself.
Beyond administrative efforts, Kepler relies on its significant fan base, primarily composed of its students. Munyampenda acknowledges the unique advantage of having an automatic fan base within the student body, considering it a stroke of luck for the organization.
"We have 1,000 students. So, with the students, we have an automatic fan base at Kepler. We are one of the lucky organizations,” she says.
Looking ahead, Kepler University has broader plans to expand its sports program, introducing women's basketball and diversifying into additional sports like volleyball. A notable initiative on the horizon is the construction of a 1,500-seater covered court which is expected to be complete by April 2024.