Gisembe memorial tourney underway

TEN CLUBS are battling for the title in this year’s Gisembe memorial basketball tournament, which got underway on Friday at Amahoro Indoor stadium court.

Saturday, June 08, 2013
Forward Lionel Hakizimana re-signed for Espoir last month after spending two seasons with APR. Saturday Sport/File.

Today, MenAPR     vs     Uranani     9amMuzinga     vs     Warriors     11amUrunani     vs     CSK     5pmMuzinga     vs     Espoir    7pmWomenUbumwe     vs     RAPP     9amAPR     vs     PJB     11amTEN CLUBS are battling for the title in this year’s Gisembe memorial basketball tournament, which got underway on Friday at Amahoro Indoor stadium court.The tournament started last evening with two matches – Cercle Sportif de Kigali (CSK) against APR in group A, while hosts Espoir were due to take on Uganda’s Warriors in group B in men’s category.It continues today with four matches on card in the men’s category and two matches in the women category.Tournament organisers and favourites Espoir will be keen to add another title to the league and playoffs success to wrap up what would be the club’s most memorable season, according to head coach Jean Bahufite.Bahufite told Saturday Sport recently, "We are determined to win this tournament, we have been prepared well and hope we will do better than we have done in recent years.” The league champions have already strengthened their squad with point guard Lionel Hakizimana from archrivals APR and forward Olivier Shyaka from last year’s champions Kigali Basketball Club.The 10 teams taking part in the tournament include three from Rwanda in men’s category and three in the women category, while other four teams are from Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi.The Rwandan teams are Espoir, APR and defending champions Circle Sportif de Kigali; then Muzinga and Urumuri from Burundi and Warriors from Uganda in the men’s category.The women’s category will have APR, RAPP and National University of Rwanda, and Promotion Jeunesse Basketball from DRC. The annual tournament is held in honour of Espoir players and officials, who were killed during the Genocide against the Tutsi.