Ndizeye joins Cape Verde side Kriol Star ahead of BAL qualifiers
Tuesday, October 08, 2024
Rwandan small forward Dieudonné Ndizeye will be part of the squad that Cape Verdian side Kriol Star will use during the Basketball Africa League (BAL) qualifiers. Olivier Mugwiza

Rwandan small forward Dieudonné Ndizeye will be part of the squad that Cape Verdian side Kriol Star will use during the Basketball Africa League (BAL) qualifiers which tips off on October 10 in Tripoli, Libya.

The 27-year-old left the country on Monday, October 7, where he joined his teammates in Libya after agreeing to a short-term deal with the club.

"I am glad to be part of this team in the qualifiers and I will try to give my best," he told Times Sport on Tuesday.

Ndizeye was one of standout performers during the 2024 season as Patriots finished as runners-up in the Rwanda Basketball League. They lost the championship to APR.

He has regularly been at the top of his game for a couple of years, positioning himself among the best in the country thanks to his skill and work ethic.

In 2019, he was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the league.

Ndizeye is no stranger to BAL. he previously featured in two editions of the competition and was a key player for Patriots, in 2021, and REG (2022).

His move to Kriol Star comes a day after reports linked him and Patriots teammate Steven Hagumintwari to a sensational move to Rwanda Energy Group (REG). Neither the player nor the club has confirmed the development but sources inside the club say that talks over the move are in advanced stage.

The race for the continent's premier club competition tips off on October 10, as Tripoli, Libya play host to the West Division.

Teams are expected to battle it out in the Division West include hosts Al Ahly Tripoli (Libya), Abidjan Basketball Club Fighters (ABC) of Cote d'Ivoire, Stade Malien (Mali), Elan Coton (Benin), Spintex Knights Sporting (Ghana), Mighty Barolle (Liberia) and Kriol Star (Cape Verde).