Rwandan Didier Shema Maboko is among referee selected by the world basketball governing body, FIBA, to handle this year’s FIBA U17 World Championships in Spain.

The men’s championship will run from June 23 to July 3, while their women counterpart will compete from June 22 to July 2, both events will be staged in the Spanish city of Zaragoza.

An international referee since 2008, Shema will be the only Rwandan match official at the ten-day long World youth championships and one of only three Africans among the 40 referee to handle the two competitions. The other two Africans are; Tunisian Abdelaziz Abassi and Babacar Gueye from Senegal.

Turning 36 on March 15, Shema told Times Sport that this is great achievement, stressing that being selected among three referees on the continent is something that doesn’t come very often and will do his best to represent well Rwanda and Africa at large.

"This is quite a big achievement, my first call up for a world championship; I have all reason to be happy,” Shema said, adding that his call up is down to professionalism, hard work and passion of the game.

He also added, "My dream competitions (to officiate in) are senior World Championships and Olympic Games, my career is on the rise, I believe I will make it there one day.”

Also serving as technical director of the local basketball governing body, FERWABA, Shema has previously officiated in big international tournaments such as FIBA Africa Championships (2009, 2011, 2013 and 2015), FIBA Africa Club Championships (2008, 2009 and 2012), FIBA Europe U18 Championships in 2009 in France and NBA Summer League in Las Vegas in 2015.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw