Patriots basketball club were in upbeat mood as they departed Kigali on Monday ahead of the inaugural Basketball Africa League (BAL) qualifiers.

Rwanda is in Group D and kick off their qualifying campaign on October 16 at the National Indoor Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

The team, comprised of 15 players, spent a week in intensive training at Amahoro Stadium.

The Patriots are placed in Group D along with Hawassa from Ethiopia, City Oilers of Uganda, JKT from Tanzania, Brave Hearts (Malawi), and Burundi’s Dynamo.

Shortly before they left, Claude Mukurarinda, the Assistant Coach told Times Sports, that, "We have been drawn in a  hard group, but the good thing is that we are aware of the competition that we face and have prepared accordingly ”.

Patriots will train on Tuesday at the National Indoor Stadium in Dar es Salaam, just a day before their opening tie.

Final Squad: Sedar Sagamba, Diedonne Ndizeye, Steven Hagumintwali, Ally Ruzigande, Kenneth Gasana, Aristide Mugabe, Junior Aubin Kasongo, Joseph Bukuru, Sanny Munyandamutsa, Didier Ishimwe, Michael Makiadi, Pascal Rurangirwa, Guibert Nijimbere, George Wilbert JR Blakeney, and Lionel Hakizimana.

editor@newtimesrwanda.com