The youth basketball camp that was taking place in Kigali concluded Friday, December 23, on a positive note as young participants hailed organisers for helping them learn new game skills, new experience and built connections among others.

A total of 32 athletes, 16 girls and 16 boys, and six physically impaired players were in attendance at the camp that took place at STECOL Masoro.

All participants aged between 14 and 17 years were awarded certificates of participation, while those who scored best grades were given certificates of merit and medals.

The camp, powered by Hoops Genesis Ventures (HGV) in partnership with Rwanda Basketball Federation (FERWABA), was organized with the aim of building self-confidence among trainees while also showing their talents during training drills.

17-year-old Ian Ganza, one of the camp participants is upbeat that the youth basketball course boosted his ability to communicate with his coaches while it also raises his self-esteem.

"For the last four years I have been playing basketball, I always looked shy in front of my coaches. But this camp boosted my confidence to communicate with them,” Ganza said.

Ganza developed a passion for basketball as he looked to follow in his uncle’s footsteps when he was playing for APR FC before he died of cancer.

The youngster is optimistic that, with such camps, he can live his dream of playing for the national team.

"Young athletes usually give up on their talents when they’re not supported in their development, or they are sometimes discouraged that the sports profession is not profitable.

According to basketball coach and HGV founder Innocent Kwizera, many of the athletes were bothered, but the coaches managed to offer them various tasks to test their performance.

Kwizera revealed that he was particularly impressed by the turn up of young girls at the camp.

He said that the camp is there to stay as his firm looks to organise more basketball camps for young talents in the future.

"We were able to identify many talents, whom we hope to push further in the basketball game. We are yet to organise another camp in July 2023, and we especially want to give more chances to the physically impaired athletes to participate,” he noted.

Participants were trained on screen balling, passing, shooting and finishing at the rim among other skills.

Besides playing basketball, participants will also be engaged in painting, singing, storytellers, dancing and acting, among others.