THE National U-18 Boys team has confirmed their readiness to stage an impressive performance at Zone 5 Afro-basketball tournament scheduled for May 10 to 15 in Kampala, Uganda. Rwanda is set to be represented by both boys’ and girls’ national teams in a tournament which will hand winners a ticket to the continental championship. The Boys’ team head coach Cyrille Kalima named a 12-man team yesterday and promised to lift the regional title. “Our target is to reach the final and lift the title. We have had good preparations and every player named on the team has a mission to accomplish. We do not fear any of the regional participants. We believe in our players because they are talented and skilled to win the tournament and bring the title home,” Kalima said. Rwanda’s boys are the defending champions; they won the competition in 2012 in Kigali after beating Kenya in the final. The Kampala tournament is meant to serve as a qualifier for the Africa Nations Championships for U-18 men’s Afro-basket games in Madagascar and U-18 women meet in Mali. The regional show will include Rwanda, Tanzania, Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Egypt, Burundi and hosts Uganda. Boys’ team: Gilbert Cyusa (UGB), Pacifique Habyarimana (KBC), Fiston Irungingabo (College Advetiste –Gitwe), Serge Kagame (UGB), Ian Mugabo (Espoir), Edmond Mujyarugamba (Espoir), Victor Mutabaruka (Gisenyi), Dieudonné Ndizeye Ndayisaba (IPRC), Bienvenu Niyonsaba (Gisenyi), Walter Nkurunziza (KBC), Bruno Nyamwasa (Espoir), Raphael Nzitonda (Gisenyi) and Yannick Rwigema Ndinda (Petit Seminaire).
