Effective next season, basketball fans will no longer need to buy tickets at the game venues after the Rwanda Basketball Federation (Ferwaba) unveiled a new e-ticketing system that will be used to purchase tickets from anywhere.

The move comes as a result of the Memorandum of Understanding signed on Friday, August 14, between the federation and the system developer, PMG, to launch the system in line with the Government of Rwanda’s drive to promote a digital economy.

The deal will see the e-ticketing system in use for the next five years, with an option to renew it if it proves successful at managing overcrowding, particularly at the Kigali Arena.

Desire Mugwiza, Ferwaba president, said the platform shall enhance the fans’ experience and convenience at games of the Bank of Kigali National Basketball League.

"Once the games resume, all the basketball fans will buy tickets digitally in order to encourage a cashless society,” Mugwiza said, urging everyone to purchase tickets online when the basketball competitions are cleared by restart.

No basketball event or game has taken place since mid-March when the league – along with every other sports activity – was suspended as the government applied strict measures to contain the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic in the country.

As soon as basketball games resume, fans will be able to buy tickets for the fixtures of their choice via PMG’s website or by using USSD Code *730# on cell phones.

With the new system, basketball fans will be able to select the fixture of their choice, select a number of tickets and seat options available on the seating map and make payment from the platform.

After the payment process, the system sends a confirmation message by email or SMS with a barcode which will be scanned at the entrance. 

Jacques Kagabo, the CEO of PMG, assured that the platform is available with or without the internet, and that one does not have to step out of their home to go to point of sales to buy tickets.

"There will be a better ticket sales monitoring because the Kigali Arena will have full access to the number of tickets sold. This solution is efficient, effective and eco-friendly.”