Mugabe to captain Rwanda at Afro-basket championships

SundayWarm-up matchRwanda vs EgyptESPOIR’s Point Guard Aristide Mugabe will captain the national senior team at the 27th edition of the African Basketball Championships scheduled for August 20-31 in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.Mugabe, who named the Fiba Africa Zone V Championship in 2012 and local league this year, leads the 12-player squad that left for Abidjan last night.Four players including former Under-18 national captain Pascal Karekezi were left out of the travelling party. Others are Kaje Elie from Espoir and APR’s duo of Sanny Munyandamutsa and Rafiki Muhamed.Small forward Lionnel Hakizimana, who is still nursing an ankle injury, was named in the squad. Team Doctor Martin Uwimana told Saturday Sport, “Hakizimana is recovering quickly and we expect him to be fit for the first game (on Wednesday).”Mugabe, after being handed the team’s captaincy over the more experienced players like former skipper Hamza Ruhezamihigo and Kami Kabange, said, “I am very proud to be team captain in such a big tournament, and as captain, I will do my best to help my team reach as far as possible.”The former Rusiz BBC player also expressed optimism in the team’s chances to better their performance from the last tournament.“We are motivated and determined to do well and if we can win our opening game against (debutants) Burkina Faso, it would give us more confidence going into the remaining games against Morocco and the defending champions, Tunisia,” he stated.Full 12-player squadArstide Mugabe (Captain), Lionnel Hakizimana, Keneth Gasana, Bradley Cameron, Patrice Twagirayezu, Bienvenue Ngandu, Kami Kabange, Aboubakar Barame, Hamza Ruhezamihigo, Jean Luc Girinshuti, Ali Kubwimana and Olivier Shyaka.

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Mugabe to captain Rwanda at Afro-basket championships