Star forwards Dieudonne Ndizeye and Steven Hagumintwari are in a dilemma as their transfers to Rwanda Energy Group (REG) are on the brink of collapsing. The experienced duo crossed over to REG in October in a sensational move from Patriots for which they played for close to a decade. Each player signed a lucrative three-year contract where Ndizeye would pocket a monthly salary of Rwf 11 million with Hagumintwari taking home Rwf 10 million every month. But things between the players and club are not going down as smoothly as earlier agreed. Times Sport understands that the two players still had one year left on their contracts with Patriots. They agreed to buy the remaining period of their contracts so Patriots can let them go. To be released, Ndizeye was supposed to pay Rwf 45 million while Hagumintwari had to pay Rwf 35 million. The players were expecting REG to start paying their salaries as per the contracts, then they would use the money to clear the outstanding balance owed to Patriots. However, things don’t seem to be going according to plan. ALSO READ: REG acquire Patriots’ Ndizeye, Hagumintwari on Rwf 80m deal What is going wrong? A source close to the players told Times Sport that REG had to start paying their monthly salaries on December 1. But, till now, they haven’t received a penny on their accounts. Instead, the club management changed its stance and told the players that it is considering revising their contracts. According to the source, REG suggested that the two forwards must accept to cut their monthly wages to Rwf 7 million each on top of having their contracts duration reduced down to seven months, something that the duo declined. ALSO READ: Patriots’ Ndizeye, Hagumintwari linked to REG move The situation sparked a standoff between the two players and REG management. The club is understood to be unwilling to terminate their contracts so that they can look for another club before the league commences on January 24. Times Sport contacted REG basketball club president Joseph Ntwali for a comment, only to simply say, “no comment.” Ndizeye, 27, and Hagumintwari, 30, are arguably Rwanda's longest-serving basketball duo, having played together for over 10 years now. After stints at IPRC Kigali and Patriots between 2014 and 2024, the pair again signed for REG at the same time. Hagumintwari is arguably the best two-way player in domestic league. He is gifted with great defensive skills, yet he doesn’t fall short in offence 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. 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).
