APR’s head coach Mazen Trakh has lauded the preparations undertaken by his team ahead of the Basketball Africa League (BAL)’s Sahara Conference that tips off on Saturday, May 4 in Dakar Senegal.

The Rwandan champions will take on Tunisia’s US Monastir in the opening game on Saturday at 4:30pm(Kigali Time), in a duel that happens to be APR’s first ever game at the BAL.

ALSO READ: APR off to Dakar for Sahara Conference regular season

Speaking in an interview with Times Sport, Trakh said the quality of the teams at the BAL this year are even better than last year, but noted that his team has prepared accordingly.

"I think compared to last year, these teams are better than they were last year. So, we are going to be very prepared for these teams, but you know, we will see what happens. We scout all these teams; we scout their players; we scout their plays. So basically, we are prepared like an NBA team,” he noted.

APR was pooled in the Sahara Conference along with US-Monastir of Tunisia, Nigeria’s Rivers Hoopers and BAL 2023 runners-up AS Douanes (Senegal).

ALSO READ: Filer roots for "winning attitude” as APR eye bright BAL debut

Before traveling to Senegal for the BAL, APR played a number of friendly games including some against Qatari teams. Trakh says such games were good in preparing his team for the competition.

Talking about the targets that APR has at the Sahara Conference, he said they want to win it and progress to the playoffs that will take place in Kigali.

APR roster in Dakar

Adonis Filer, Dario Hunt, Ntore Habimana, William Robeyns, Jean Jacques Wilson Nshobozwabyosenumukiza, Axel Mpoyo, Obadiah Noel, Abdullah Ahmed Mohamed, Dan Kimasa, Christophe Ruta, Larson Shema Niyibizi and Bush Wamukota.