Rwandan basketball star dies mysteriously

LOCAL basketball fraternity is in deep shock and sadness after the passing away on Monday evening of Jonathan Rutare, a Rwandan basketball player with Tampa Bay Christian School in Florida.The 17-year old, who was part of the U-18 team that represented Rwanda in the zone V U-18 qualifiers in 2010 where the national team finished 6th, had been in the U.S for only six months.The cause of his death is yet to be ascertained but sources say it could be a heart attack.Rutare was due to jet into the country next week to join his teammates preparing for this year’s Zone V Qualifiers slated for July 17-26 and, according to Moise Mutokabiri, the national team assistant coach, the death of the youthful center forward has shocked everyone. “It is so sad that we have lost a promising player, who was the future of basketball in this country. We had expected to use his experience in bolstering our squad but it is unfortunate that he died so suddenly, he will be dearly missed” Mutokabiri told Times Sport.There was no training on Monday as shocked teammates were hit with the sad news and, before training started yesterday, the team observed a minute of silence to remember their fallen colleague.It is the second time in two months that the country is losing two of its sports players suddenly. Last month Amavubi defender Patrick Mafisango died in a horrific car crash in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.Meanwhile, the junior hoops team leave for Bujumbura tomorrow morning to take part in the Great Lakes tournament. The team will be using it as preparations for the forthcoming Zone V qualifiers in Kigali.

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Rwandan basketball star dies mysteriously