The Rwanda Basketball Association, FERWABA has released the 2021 season draft calendar and the BK National League is set to tip-off on April 2nd, 2021.
FERWABA wants to reopen various basketball events, which will start with the BK Pre-season Tournament 2021 as usual.
In the calendar released, there are international competitions for example the Basketball Africa League which has not been able to meet the dates it was scheduled for last year due to the global outbreak of COVID-19, the Genocide Memorial Tournament which also did not happen last year is planned for this year, the AfroBasket Qualifiers for Women, and the Men’s 2021 AfroBasket finals.
In addition to these international competitions, FERWABA has set guidelines for the prevention of COVID-19 during the resumption of Basketball activities. The guidelines include the following;
- During the training: Each team is required to test its players and coaches (Rapid Test) before the start of the training and this will be repeated every week. No one else is allowed to attend the training except the players, coaches, and federation staff.
- During the competition: All teams are required to accommodate their players and coaches in a known location (Bubble) depending on their financial capabilities, for as long as the tournament is taking place. Before entering the camp, each team must first use a PCR test. The players and coaches will also take a test 3 hours before the day’s matches. FERWABA staff and referees will be required to take a Covid19 Rapid test before each match.
FERWABA also considered the possibility of the tournament being played with players returning home due to limited resources. The players will be tested 3 hours before the tip-off and those who return negative results will be allowed to participate in the game.
When fans will be allowed to come to the venue, they must be tested for COVID-19 (Rapid Test) with the result that they are free of infection and taken within 72 hours.
These regulations are subject to changes depending on the situation of the pandemic and When the fans are allowed to attend the games, there will be other changes depending on the strategies put in place to stop the spread of the pandemic.
2021 season calendar.
From 19/03/2021 to 26/03/2021: BK Pre-Season.
From 02/04/2021 to 08/08/2021: BK National League.
May 2021: Basketball Africa League.
From 16/06/2021 to 20/06/2021: Genocide Memorial Tournament.
06-07 / 2021: Women’s Afrobasket Qualifiers.
From 24/08/2021 to 05/09/2021: Afrobasket Finals.
09-10 /2021: BK Playoffs.
