Rwandan men’s basketball team endured a losing start to the title defence going down 57-96 against Egypt at the 2013 Fiba-Afrobasket Zone V qualifiers in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.The reigning champions were no match for the 2009 champions, Egypt, who were simply too good, better organised and technically superior in all departments.Rwanda’s teams were scheduled to face Uganda and Tanzania in the men and women’s categories, last evening.The men’s team head coach Moize Mutokambali said, “We lost to a very good team but must get back on track and make sure we don’t lose any other game if we want to reach our target. There is no shame losing to a better team.”Elsewhere, Kenyan teams launched a winning start in both the men and women categories.The women’s team defeated hosts Tanzania 74-32, while the men’s team had a good time out with a 71-63 win over Burundi.Action continues today with Rwanda’s women side taking on Kenya and the men square off against hosts Tanzania.The Kenyan men’s team is in a relatively easy group B fixture alongside Burundi and Somalia. Pool A features hosts Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda and Egypt.Six teams, namely; hosts Tanzania, defending champions Rwanda, Kenya, Burundi, Egypt and Uganda are taking part in the women’s competition.The African Nations Cup will be held in DRC in August 2013.
