AS the national women basketball team takes to the court this evening for their first of three game series against West African giants Cameroon, national head Coach Veceskav Kavedzija will be looking for the right combinations and game plan ahead of this year’s Fiba-Africa Women Basketball Championship in Madagascar.

Rwanda is one of twelve teams in the championship which runs from October 9 to 18 in Antananarivo.

On top of using the series to name his final squad, the Croat tactician will also have a glimpse of what’s to come in Antananarivo.

Rwanda’s hopes of making the quarter-finals on their debut were not helped after being drawn in the tournament’s group of death last week.

The first timers now have to contend for the top four slots with defending champions Mali, two-time champions Nigeria, 2001 losing finalists Tunisia, 1983 winners Angola and Guinea in Group B.

Group A pits record champions Senegal with Mozambique, Cameroon, South Africa, Mauritius and hosts Madagascar.
Despite admitting that it would take a spirited effort from the team to get to the quarters, he still thinks that the team can squeeze through.

"We all know that we are in a difficult group but that should not deter us from our immediate target of reaching the next stage (quarters),” Kavedzija, who turned 65 back in March said.

Meanwhile, Cameroon has appointed a new coach to help push for that maiden championship title.
The Italian coach Stephano Bizzozi boasts of vast coaching experience.

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