The national women basketball team coach, Moise Mutokambali, has dropped three players from his provisional squad as the rest embark on intensive preparations ahead of the upcoming FIBA Africa Zone V Championships from June 25-30 in Uganda.

The women’s senior national team was resuscitated in April after almost six years without playing a single official – or friendly – match.

Also, the competition will serve as qualifiers for the 2019 African Basketball Championships, which is to be held on August 9-18 in Senegal.

After nearly two months in non-residential training, the team entered residential camp at La Palisse Hotel Wednesday, and they will be training twice a day at Amahoro Stadium until their departure to Kampala next week.

The released players are; Laurance Imanizabayo, Assouma Uwizeye and Leah Mushimiyimana.

By press time Wednesday, only one player Tierra Henderson – who is based in Romania, at Universitatea Cluj Napoca – was yet to join her teammates in camp. Times Sport understands that she will be reporting to camp on Saturday.

Speaking to this publication after Tuesday’s training session, Mutokambali said that his players were all in good shape and ‘are working very hard’ to make it to the final roster.

14-player squad in camp:

Rosine Micomyiza, Faustine Mwizerwa, Odile Tetero, Laurance Imanizabayo, Ange Akimana, Cecile Nzaramba, Joselyne Munyaneza, Sifa Joyeuse Ineza, Nicole Urwibutso and Nadine Rutagengwa, Blandine Munyambonera, Charlotte Umugwaneza, Jordan Odette Muhoza and Hope Butera.

editor@newtimesrwanda.com