Friday

Men

Semi-finals: Game 1Patriots vs IPRC-Kigali 7pm

Saturday

Espoir vs IPRC-South 6pm

Integrated Polytechnic Regional Center (IPRC)-South Basketball club have appointed Charles Mushumba as interim head coach, handing him a three-month subject to signing a long term contract after the playoff games.

The club sacked their former head coach Didier Bineza on Wednesday after failing to lead them to the league title. The club lost in the final game (title decider) at home to Patriots 45-52 last month – the win handed Patriots their maiden league title, while IPRC-South went on to finish third.

Speaking to Times Sport, Mushumba, who has been the head trainer for the University of Rwanda, College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS) basketball club since 2002, revealed that he has been tasked to lead IPRC-South through the playoffs that start today when Patriots face IPRC-Kigali in Game 1 of their best-of-five semi-final series at Amahoro indoor stadium.

IPRC-South take on defending champions Espoir in their semi-final, starting tomorrow at the same venue.

"It’s true I am now the head coach for IPRC-South, but for only three months, with a possibility to take up the job on a long term. The club approached me and asked me to help them in this short period since our (CASS) season is over, however after the playoffs, we shall talk about the next step,” said Mushumba.

He, however, noted that; "I have not left CASS because this arrangement is only for a short period, and in case we don’t agree on a long term contract, I will definitely be going back to my club.”

Mushumba joined the former National University of Rwanda (NUR) in 1997 as a player. In 2002 he became the head coach for both the university’s men and women hoops teams.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw