APR will remain competitive – Owour

APR Basketball Club coach Cliff Owour has said his team will remain competitive despite the decision to release all foreign players.As a policy to all Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF)’s teams, APR basketball club released all foreign players in a bid to give room to local talent to help develop local sport.Owour, who has guided the club to major honours, is optimistic.“My team will remain strong even if we have adopted a new strategy of giving a chance to Rwandan players. APR will remain a big and tough team to beat.”“We need to give them time, after playing many matches, I hope they will be ready for the big stage”Owour has helped APR win league titles and play-off trophies in 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2009.The Kenyan born also guided the military side to three Zone Five titles – in 2007 in Kigali, 2008 in Ethiopia and 2009 in Kampala. He also won Kenyatta Cup in Kisumu in 2009 with APR.Espoir and Kigali Basketball Club are now the only clubs which are using foreign players.At the start of the season, APR lost the opening match, against Circle Sportif de Kigali (CSK) 50-49, before securing two victories – against Rusizi 90-57 and UGB 75-51.Kigali and Espoir jointly lead the league standings with 8 points each. They are followed by APR and CSK with 7 points; UGB have 6 points; newcomers 30-Plus are placed sixth with 4 points, while Rwanda National University and Rusizi have three points each, with Kigali Institute of Education at bottom of the table, with 2 points.The league will continue on Friday and Saturday.

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APR will remain competitive – Owour