Rwanda’s basketball Federation (Ferwaba) is counting on Hamza Ruhezamihigo to help the national team make an impact at the Africa-Zone V basketball Championship qualifiers slated for February 23 – March 1 in Kigali.

Ruhezamihigo, who plays for Concordia in Canada jetted in last Saturday and immediately linked up with the 16-man provisional team at Amahoro Indoor Stadium; the venue for the qualifiers.

"Having him here is a big boost to the team. His potential can’t be questioned. He is very talented and his experience adds plenty to the team,” Ferwaba’s technical advisor Innocent Karuhije said yesterday.

After Manix Aurianthal (Canada) pulling out of the qualifiers, Ferwaba is also counting on Robert Thomson (Romania) and Wilfred Nyandwi (USA) to further boost the team’s chances in the zonal event.

"We are really counting on Thomson and Nyandwi because Manix is not coming,” Karuhije continued.

Ruhezamihigo became a crowd favourite during the 2007 CAN qualifiers which were staged in Kigali.

The shooting guard played a pivotal role in helping Rwanda qualify for her first ever Afro-basket competition. After his impressive performances, he was voted as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP).

Just like in 2007, this year’s edition pits Rwanda will teams from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Sudan, Egypt and Burundi.

After the week-long event, the winner will automatically qualify for this year’s Afro-basket event in Libya. The Afro-basket competition is the most coveted basketball event in Africa.

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