Today

APR vs CSK 2pmEspoir vs UR-CASS 4pm

Sunday

IPRC-Kigali vs Rusizi 9amUGB vs IPRC-South 11am

Reigning champions Espoir basketball club start the defence of their league title against University of Rwanda-College of Arts and Social Sciences (UR- CASS) on Saturday in a buoyant mood as they seek a record fifth consecutive title.

The Nyamirambo-based giants will, however, be without their head coach, Jean Bahufite, when they take on Charles Mushumba’s varsity side at Amahoro indoors stadium—the game is scheduled to begin at 4pm.

In their bid for a record-extending fifth consecutive regular season title, the 2012 FIBA Africa Zone Five champions will this season face stiff challenge from new forces in the likes of IPRC-South and Patriots as well as traditional archrivals APR and CSK.

Nonetheless, assistant coach Maxime Mwiseneza insists his side has what it takes to retain not only the regular season title, but also the playoff trophy despite losing their inspirational captain and shoot-guard Aristide Mugabe who crossed to Patriots, who are seen as genuine challengers to Espoir’s four-year dominance.

"It’s a new season and obviously there has been changes with most teams, including us, so we need to concentrate one game at a time, which makes Saturday’s (today) game against UR- CASS, a top priority.

"It is surely going to be a tough campaign, possibly tougher than last season, but we are ready to offer what it takes, our target is to retain the title,” Mwiseneza told Saturday Sport.

Mwiseneza will be hoping to inspire his team to a win in the opening game of the season in the absence of Bahufite, who is reported to be in talks with the club over a new contract.

Espoir lost two senior players namely; Mugabe and Elie Kaje to Patriots, and will also be without suspended star shooting guard Lionnel Hakizimana.

The four-time reigning league and playoffs champions are fresh from losing the pre-season tournament title. They lost the final to IPRC-South 83-64 on Sunday.

Elsewhere, today, 2010 champions APR, coached by Kenya international Cliff Owour, will be up against Bob Ngoga’s Cercle Sportif de Kigali (CSK) in the league’s opening game, which starts at 2pm at Amahoro indoor stadium.

The later finished fourth while the military side, which has not won any silverware in the past four years, finished third in the ten-team league, last season.

APR trainer Owuor said, "I am happy with the team I have right now, it has a good blend of youthfulness and experience. We want to do better than last season and challenge for the title; we know we are capable of that, but it’s about us to prove that on the court, starting on Saturday (against CSK).”

On Sunday, the pre-season tournament winners IPRC-South face United Generation Basketball (UGB) club at UR- CST (formerly KIST) courts while Albert Buhake’s IPRC-Kigali will host Rusizi at Amahoro indoor stadium.

According to Rwanda basketball federation (FERWABA), the date for the start of the women’s league is yet to be fixed.

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