Rwanda Energy Group (REG) basketball club is closer to acquiring star small forward Dieudonné Ndizeye and forward Steven Hagumintwari from Patriots, Times Sport has learned. A highly placed source from the REG top management confirmed to Times Sport that “negotiations” are at advanced stages, declining to divulge further details. “We are in advanced talks with both players. Hopefully, they will be joining REG on mutual agreements. So far both parties have shown great commitment to the deal,” a source familiar with the ongoing negotiations said on condition of anonymity. Once materialized, the trade would be a shot in the arm for the energy side, considering that both experienced players command their authority on both ends of the floor as witnessed at Patriots with whom they won four championships since 2016. Ndizeye and Hagumintwari were key figures at Patriots during the just concluded 2024 season, helping the club reach the finals of the Rwanda basketball league. They lost the finals series 4-2 to champions APR. despite losing the championship, Ndizeye registered the highest number of three-pointers, making 64 throughout the 2024 season. ALSO READ: PHOTOS: APR see off Patriots in Game 6, win record 15th championship Hagumintwari Arguably the best two-way player in the Rwanda Basketball League (RBL), Hagumintwari is gifted with great defensive skills, yet he doesn’t fall short in offense either. His most recent injury setback was in 2021 during the inaugural Basketball Africa League (BAL) season, when he fractured his knee, keeping him off the court until the following year. He made his return to action in 2022 but struggled to hit his pre-injury levels, yet his team needed him to be at his best as it faced aggressive competition from rivals Rwanda Energy Group (REG) who eventually beat them in two consecutive playoff finals to win two championships at their expense. During the 2024 season, a fit again Hagumintwari was at his prime throughout the regular season, putting in good numbers in terms of scoring and rebounding, besides entertaining fans with a couple of hammer dunks. However, APR proved too strong for his side in the playoffs finals to lift the championship. Ndizeye Ndizeye was one of standout performers during the 2024 season as Patriots finished as runners-up in the Rwanda Basketball League. For a couple of years, he was one of the top players in the country, thanks to his skill and work ethic. In 2019, he was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the league. He has featured in two editions of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) and was a key player for Patriots, in 2021, and REG (2022).
