IPRC-Kigali, Patriots keen on playoffs appearance

IPRC-Kigali is keen on winning their remaining four league matches which could help them qualify for the playoffs which commence next month. The newcomers, who face regular season winners Espoir on Saturday, are currently in fifth position with 24 points, two behind fourth placed Patriots who are also eyeing a top four finish. IPRC Kigali head coach Albert Buhake said, “We want to win this game [Espoir] and it will help us to make it to the top four, but we have other games which we will have to win against Patriots, IPRC-South and Circle Sportif de Kigali (CSK). Those are important games and if we manage to win all of them, we will make it to the top four.” Buhake further added that, “Our aim is to play in playoffs and we shall remain focused on our target. We know it will be tough but we are ready. We want to win the game against Espoir just as we did in the first leg [73-65].” According to Buhake, the Kicukiro-based side is pursuing a complaint with the Rwanda Basketball Federation (FERWABA) following an incident against Rusizi, where the latter featured a Congolese player, using the Rwandan name ‘Emmanuel Bakundukize’. IPRC Kigali has also complained to FERWABA to about their former player Abdallatif Nsengiyumva who joined APR at the beginning of the season but the army side is yet paid to pay the transfer fee worth Rwf 500,000. According to Buhake, the agreement was that Nsengiyumva does not play for APR against IPRC Kigali if they have not settled the transfer but APR went ahead to feature him despite not meeting the agreement. Buhake wants FERWABA to consider that fixture a forfeit. He said, “If the federation [FERWABA] does everything with fairness, we will qualify for the playoffs.” Meanwhile, fourth-placed Patriots head coach Cyrille Kalima is confident that if they win Saturday’s game against APR, they could be second on the table standings. “We have three games remaining but to beat APR will help us to be in second position”, mentioned Kalima who believes that his side will beat University of Rwanda and 30 Plus.Regular season champions Espoir have already qualified for the playoffs. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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IPRC-Kigali, Patriots keen on playoffs appearance