Star Times National Basketball League side United Generation Basketball (UGB) are organising the first edition of Legacy Basketball Tournament – set for October 26-28 at Amahoro Stadium. The three-day tournament is organised in partnership with Rwanda Basketball Federation. According to UGB head coach, Yves Murenzi, the main purpose of the tournament is to remember and honour two iconic personalities who significantly contributed to the growth of the game at Lycée de Kigali (LDK) and in the country, between 1995 and 2007. The two are late Aimable Shampiyona, former LDK Headmaster and founding president of the school’s basketball team, and Jean de Dieu Nizeyimana, who played for the national team, at the same time doubling as a volunteer coach with LDK basketball team. Shampiyona, who was largely regarded as a champion of sports, passed on in 2004 while Nizeyimana died on October 30, 2007 following sudden illness. “When UGB got formed in 2000, the club recruited most of its players from LDK, and the two icons were crucial in that process. We have been meaning to organise this tournament for a long time, thankfully it’s finally happening. We want to make it an annual event,” said Murenzi. The inaugural edition will have contesting teams under three major categories; veterans, juniors and the professional (men and women) category. Full list of confirmed teams Professional teams: Men:Patriots, APR, UGB, REG, IPRC-Kigali and Espoir Women:IPRC-South, Ubumwe, The Hoops Rwanda and APR Veteran teams: Espoir, UGB, Patriots and CSK Junior teams: Lycée De Kigali and College St André editorial@newtimes.co.rw
