Friday APR vs Espoir 18:00 Patriots vs IPRC-Kigali 20:00

It will be a clash of former champions when APR face Espoir in the opener of the new BK Basketball National League season, which starts Friday night.

The game starts 6pm, at Amahoro Indoor Stadium.

Espoir, who won the last of their four consecutive league titles in 2015, finished third last season after beating APR in the playoffs. The latter have not won the league title since 2010.

"We are ready for the new season, and we want to start it with victory,” said Aimé Karim Nkusi, the APR head coach.

However, he also acknowledged that, "It is going to be a long campaign. All the teams have prepared well and have set almost the same targets. We will need to work hard and be consistent in every game.”

In separate an interview, newly appointed Espoir head coach Janvier Kamanzi said that he had spoken with his players and they were all fit to battle for a winning start to the 2019-20 season.

In another game, two-time reigning champions Patriots will be up against IPRC–Kigali at 8pm, same venue.