University of Rwanda-College of Arts and Social Sciences (UR- CASS) basketball club are hopeful to make it to the top four in the 2015/16 national league, which starts on Saturday, according to the club captain Aubin Bizimana.

The Huye-based university club, which finished in 8th position in the ten-team league table last season, has landed new recruits and the target is to make it to the top four of the league and a place in the post-regular season play-offs.

"It’s a new campaign, new team and new ambitions. We have to leave last season’s disappointments behind and focus on the future with a positive mentality, it’s going to be a highly grueling task but we have got what it takes,” the Burundian-born shooting guard Aubin Bizimana told Times Sport on Thursday.

He added, "We have had quality preparations and the new players have had enough time to blend in. The mood in the team is amazing and confidence level is high. We want to finish at least in the top four this time round.”

In a separate interview, UR- CASS head coach Charles Mushumba backed echoed his captain’s view, "I’m confident in my youthful squad, we want this to be our season to shine and we will do everything possible for that to happen.”

UR- CASS open their campaign against four-time reigning champions Espoir on Saturday (tomorrow) at Amahoro indoor stadium.

The 2015/2016 national basketball championship comes four months after the end of last season’s that was won by Espoir and APR in the men and women categories respectively.

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