The race for the Rwanda Volleyball National League title is heating up, and here’s the full scoop on the playoff finals schedule, which will determine the 2024 league champions.
The Rwanda Volleyball National League playoffs are reaching their climax, with the finals now set. In both the men’s and women’s categories, four teams remain in the bracket, with only two destined to claim the 2024 league titles.
The 2020 league champions, APR, who finished the regular season in fourth position, will commence their playoff finals against the league newcomers, Kepler, on Friday, May 24, at 7 p.m. The showdown will take place at the Ecole Belge de Kigali Gymnasium.
In the semifinals, APR, the army side, surprised everyone by sweeping the regular-season top-seeded team, REG, 2-0, thus marking their return to the finals after four years. They will face off against Fidel Nyirimana’s Kepler, who are experiencing their debut season in the Rwanda Volleyball League.
APR and Kepler will play their second match at the same venue on Saturday, May 25th, starting at 6 p.m. The outcome of this match in the best-of-three series often determines the ultimate victor.
In the Rwanda Volleyball National League regular season, APR secured victory against Kepler in an exhilarating five-set match, but Kepler sought redemption in the second leg, prevailing over APR in three straight sets.
In the women’s category, APR, the Rwanda Volleyball National League regular season leaders continued their dominant form in the playoffs, easily dispatching Ruhango in the semifinals. However, facing Police VC, who eliminated the defending champions, promises to be a fierce battle, given the established rivalry between these teams in Rwandan women’s volleyball.
The clash between APR WVC and Police WVC has now taken the spotlight from the APR versus RRA match as the prominent women’s volleyball game in Rwanda.
The first game between these security entities will commence at 4:30 p.m., marking the tipoff of the 2024 Playoff Finals. The Rwanda Volleyball Federation has scheduled the second game for 3:30 p.m. If necessary, both the men’s and women’s categories will play their third games on Sunday, May 26th, with the women’s game at 3:30 p.m. preceding the final men’s match.
The Ecole Belge de Kigali Gymnasium will host all the scheduled games.
The playoffs’ winners will claim the Rwanda Volleyball National League title and earn the right to represent Rwanda in the Africa Club Championships. Gisagara and RRA, the reigning champions in the men’s and women’s divisions, respectively, were unable to defend their titles.
APR Volleyball Club (wearing white) advanced to the playoff finals by defeating REG in the semi-finals.
APR clinched a spot in the 2024 Rwanda National Volleyball League Playoffs Finals after sweeping the regular season’s top-seeded team, REG, in a decisive 2-0 series sweep. They are gearing up to compete against Kepler in the finals.
On Saturday, May 18, at Ecole Belge de Kigali, the semi-finals of the Rwanda National Volleyball League Playoffs concluded in a one-sided series playoff in both the men’s and women’s categories. The men’s competition saw a stunning outcome as both the first and second top-ranked teams from the regular season were eliminated with clean sweeps.
APR emerged victorious over REG in game 2, clinching the win in four sets. This followed their triumph in game 1 on Friday, where APR staged a comeback from being one set down to secure a 3-1 victory against REG. On the other hand, Kepler secured a spot in the playoff finals of their debut volleyball league season by defeating Police in straight sets.
Fidel Nyirimana and his team are celebrating their accomplishment of reaching the playoff finals in their debut season.
In the women’s category of the National Volleyball League playoff finals, APR Volleyball Club will compete against Police Volleyball Club.
APR easily progressed by defeating Ruhango in two games, while Police secured victory over defending champions RRA. This sets the stage for an anticipated final clash between the police and their rivals, APR.
Police WVC secured their spot in the finals by eliminating the defending champions, RRA, in the semi-finals.
The championship will be decided by the best of three games, determining the 2024 Rwanda champions and dethroning the RRA team, which showed a lower performance level this season compared to APR and Police.
APR Women Volleyball Club’s team has made it back to the finals after a setback in the previous season against RRA.
The finals are scheduled to commence on May 24 at the Ecole Belge Gymnasium, a newly established sports facility that has become a hub for volleyball enthusiasts in Kigali. This venue has provided a convenient location for the Rwanda Volleyball Federation to host their games and efficiently collect gate revenue, a logistical improvement over previous seasons.
The matches at Ecole Belge de Kigali are pulling in sizable crowds.
The playoff winners are declared the league champions and earn the opportunity to represent the country in the Africa Club Championships.
APR, Rwanda's representative in the 2024 BAL season
The BAL playoffs are set to take place at Kigali’s BK Arena for the fourth consecutive year and feature eight top African teams. However, Rwanda will not participate in the competition for the first time since its inception.
From May 24 to June 1, the 2024 Basketball Africa League Playoffs will unfold at Kigali’s BK Arena. Seven teams are poised to challenge Egypt’s Al Ahly, who are striving to defend their title and etch their names in history.
On May 24, the eight qualified teams from three conferences will compete in seeding games to determine their playoff opponents.
FUS Rabat and Petro de Luanda represent the Kalahari Conference, while Al Ahly (Cairo) and Al Ahly (Benghazi) represent the Nile Conference.
Rivers Hoopers and AS Douanes represent the Sahara Conference, while the best third-ranked teams, US Monastir from the Sahara Conference and Cape Town Tigers from the Kalahari Conference, have also advanced.
APR, Rwanda’s representative in the 2024 BAL, concluded the Sahara Conference games with 2 wins and 4 losses, finishing at the bottom and getting eliminated.
APR Basketball Club began preparations in December last year, assembling the roster and necessary staff. They later held a 10-day training camp in Doha, Qatar, before hosting numerous international friendlies in Kigali. However, the real test in Dakar revealed the team’s unreadiness.
Since the league’s inception in 2021, Rwanda has consistently hosted the playoffs, but for the first time, the land of thousand hills won’t be represented in the BAL playoffs.
In less than 10 days, the qualified teams will converge in Kigali to commence the postseason games. Among them, only Petro de Luanda has participated in every playoff. Carlos Morais will captain Petro de Luanda for the fourth time. Under his guidance, the team has consistently reached the semifinals since 2021.
Egyptian champions Al Ahly will strive to become the first team to successfully defend the Basketball Africa League title. However, they face a formidable challenge, as the eight competing teams hail from three separate conferences for the first time.
Peter Olisemeka delivered an outstanding performance against APR, securing a double-double with 17 points and 19 rebounds. His stellar play was instrumental in Rivers Hoopers' qualification for the playoffs.
Rivers Hoopers triumph over APR with a 78-71 victory after a gripping second overtime, securing their place in the 2024 BAL playoffs. This significant victory not only distinguishes them as the first team from the Sahara Conference to advance to the 2024 BAL Playoffs but also marks them as the first Nigerian team to qualify for the BAL playoffs
Today, on May 11, the Rivers Hoopers, Nigeria’s representative in the 2024 Basketball Africa League, clinched a playoff berth by defeating Rwanda’s representative APR in their fifth Sahara Conference game at the Dakar Arena.
Against the odds, the Rivers Hoopers entered the conference as underdogs but triumphed, winning four out of five games, including two impressive victories over the Rwandan Champions, APR Basketball Club.
APR approached this game well-aware of William Perry’s offensive prowess, prompting Mazen Trakh to make a rare alteration to his starting lineup for the first time this season. Nshobozwabyosenumukiza was inserted to bolster the perimeter defense against Rivers Hoopers’ William Perry.
After a strong start by Rwanda’s army side, they faced a setback when their leading scorer, Noel Obadiah, suffered an injury early in the game, sidelining him for the remainder of the match. Despite Obadiah’s absence, Mazen Trakh’s team managed to maintain a narrow lead, concluding the first quarter with a score of 19-16.
However, their challenges continued as APR encountered another injury setback in the second quarter, with Adonis Filer injuring his right Achilles’ tendon. With both Obadiah and Filer off the court, Nshobozwa, Ntore, and Captain Williams stepped up to handle the ball responsibilities.
Mpoyo’s layup extended their lead to 24-21, but Kelvin Amayo’s three-pointer leveled the score at 24-24. A quick succession of three-pointers from Williams and Mpoyo pushed APR to a six-point lead, prompting a timeout from Ogoh Odaudu.
The timeout revitalized the Nigerian team, with Peter Olisemeka’s alley-oop dunk followed by Kelvin Amayo’s three-pointer narrowing the deficit to just one point.
Olisemeka then delivered another stunning dunk, giving the Rivers Hoopers a lead just before halftime, with the score at 31-30.
APR remained focused on their primary objective in the third quarter, which is neutralizing William Perry’s influence on the Rivers Hoopers’ offensive plays. Perry, who had only attempted one shot in the first 27 minutes of the game, found himself effectively contained by APR’s defensive efforts.
With Perry contained, APR seized control of the game and executed their offensive plays with ease. Five minutes into the third quarter, Ntore Habimana sank his first three-pointer of the season after eight unsuccessful attempts. However, the Rivers Hoopers faced further adversity when Devine Eke collected his fourth personal foul two minutes later.
With both Perry and Eke sidelined, the Rivers Hoopers struggled to generate offense, providing an opportune moment for Rwanda’s Army side to extend their lead.
APR capitalized on this opportunity, scoring 20 points in the quarter. Notably, Nshobozwa and Ntore contributed 16 points between them, with each player scoring eight points. As a result, APR entered the final period with a commanding nine-point lead, 50-41.
In the final quarter, the Rivers Hoopers came out with a fierce determination to not only erase the deficit but also win and secure a spot in the playoffs.
Within the first four minutes, they managed to narrow the gap and assert their dominance in the paint against APR. However, the tide turned when William Robeyns fouled out with just 1:41 remaining on the clock.
Despite this setback, Kevine Eke rose to the occasion, sinking a crucial two-point basket to tie the game at 58 and push it into overtime. Throughout this crucial quarter, both Devine Eke and Peter Olisemeka contributionon both ends of the court, highlighting their hunger to secure a playoff berth and etch their names in Nigerian basketball history.
The Nigerian team surged ahead with rapid offensive transitions, swiftly building a six-point lead within the first two minutes, extending it to seven points within three minutes. However, APR mounted a comeback, narrowing the deficit to just two points in the final two minutes of play.
In a remarkable turn of events, they managed to tie the score within a minute, setting the stage for a thrilling conclusion to the game. 65-65
In the decisive second overtime, the Nigerian team dominated, scoring 13 points while only allowing 6 points from their opponents, securing a crucial victory and advancing to the playoffs.
In the second game, US Monastir emerged victorious with a 75-69 win over AS Douanes, securing the second spot in the rankings.
APR and AS Douanes find themselves in the bottom two positions in the rankings. Their upcoming match will be a crucial showdown, as both teams vie for a playoff spot in a do-or-die scenario.
Tomorrow’s games will hold significant weight in determining the second slot in the standings, as well as potentially securing the best third place. US Monastir is set to take on Rivers Hoopers, while APR will clash with AS Douanes.
US Monastir's leading scorer, Marcus Christopher Crawford
Former Patriots player turned US Monastir standout, Marcus Christopher Crawford, ignited the court with a 31-point performance against APR, revitalizing Monastir’s stature in the 2024 BAL Sahara Conference.
DAKAR, May 9, Marcus Christopher Crawford’s stellar 31-point performance for US Monastir halted APR’s bid for back-to-back wins in the Basketball Africa League, clinching Monastir’s first victory instead.
APR Basketball Club had a strong start in the opening quarter, quickly jumping to a 7-point lead within the first three minutes. However, they continued to face challenges with their long-range shooting.
The Mazen Trakh-coached side decided to focus on driving to the basket, particularly facing Ater Majok in the paint, which proved to be successful. They dominated inside, outscoring their opponents 10-2 in the paint in the first five minutes, allowing them to end the quarter with a slim 3-point lead of 22-19.
APR struggled with their three-point shooting, making just one out of four attempts, while US Monastir capitalized with a 4 out of 10 success rate from beyond the arc.
As a refresher, leading up to this game, APR had been shooting at a 23% rate from three-point range, placing them as the lowest in the conference in terms of long-range shooting proficiency. On the other hand, US Monastir had a slightly better performance, with 29% accuracy from behind the arc.
Marcus Christopher Crawford and Sadio Doucoure entered the second quarter with a determined mindset to shift the momentum. They scored consecutive mid-range shots, granting the Tunisian Champions their first lead of the game.
The former Patriots guard, Marcus Crawford, continued to be a threat with his long-range shooting, extending their lead. He briefly disrupted his rhythm when he picked up his third personal foul, and the coach temporarily benched him.
During this period, APR heavily relied on their top scorer, Noel Obadiah, who seemed focused on individual performance rather than team play. Consequently, the Tunisian team narrowed the deficit to just one point by halftime, with the score at 36-37. Notably, APR didn’t attempt any three-pointers during this quarter.
After the halftime break, Ater James Majok, the 2022 Mutombo Dikembe Defensive Player of the Year, incurred his third personal foul. However, APR’s offense remained unfazed, particularly in the paint, where Majok avoided further fouls and made a significant impact.
The Rwandan Champions, APR, prioritized attacking the paint over relying on long-range shots, which proved successful in the opening minutes of the third quarter, resulting in an 8-1 run and forcing a timeout from Munir Mohamed El-Kirdani.
Towards the end of the third quarter, Dario Hunt, who was performing well, picked up his fourth personal foul, with APR holding a 5-point lead at 49-44.
With two minutes remaining in the third quarter, William Robeyns extended APR’s lead to six points with a three-pointer, only the team’s second successful attempt from beyond the arc since Mpoyo’s earlier shot in the first quarter. However, Firas Lahyani’s layup reduced the deficit to 4 points, with the score at 54-50.
In the final quarter, APR found themselves struggling defensively, especially with Dario Hunt dealing with foul trouble. This allowed Oussama Marnaoui to sink back-to-back three-pointers, giving the Tunisians a slim two-point lead. Marcus Crawford also contributed by making a basket and successfully converting a free throw as a bonus.
The momentum continued for US Monastir as Lahyani extended their lead to 7 points within the first two minutes of the period, prompting Maz Trakh to call a timeout. US Monastir was on an impressive 11-point scoring streak.
Despite being a top scorer for APR, Noel Obadiah’s defensive efforts were lacking, leading to an unsportsmanlike foul with 6 minutes remaining. This gave the US Monastir two free throws and possession, allowing them to further widen their lead. Obadiah eventually fouled out of the game with 2 minutes left.
With limited options from the bench, as four players had yet to be employed, APR struggled to contain Marcus Crawford and the US Monastir offense. With 5 minutes remaining, the gap widened to 12 points.
In a strategic move, Lahyani targeted Dario Hunt in the paint, resulting in Hunt fouling out of the game. This mirrored Hunt’s foul trouble against US Monastir in the first game.
Despite fouling out, Dario Hunt of APR managed to notch a team-high 17 points.
APR couldn’t mount a comeback and suffered their second loss in the Sahara Conference, with a final score of 70-83.
Marcus Christopher Crawford, formerly with the Patriots and now playing for US Monastir, delivered an outstanding performance, scoring a game-high 31 points. His remarkable play inspired the US Monastir to secure their first win of the 2024 Sahara Conference.
Crawford, the leading scorer in BAL history, is maintaining impressive averages of 19 points and 8.8 assists per game this season, highlighting his offensive prowess.
US Monastir’s triumph injected renewed vigor into their campaign, intricately weaving an additional layer of complexity and intrigue into the playoff qualification process within the conference.
In the other game, Mike Fofan sank a buzzer-beater, abruptly halting Rivers Hoopers’ winning streak. Fofan’s last-second basket propelled AS Douanes to a thrilling 56-54 victory over the conference leaders, Rivers Hoopers.
Following AS Douanes’ win, the Rivers Hoopers from Nigeria remain at the top of the conference standings with a 3-1 record. APR is close behind with a 2-2 record, while AS Douanes holds the third position.
Despite AS Douanes and APR sharing the same win ratio, APR claims the higher position due to their favorable head-to-head matchup. Crawford’s US Monastir lags behind in fourth place with only one win in four games.
This Saturday, Crawford leads US Monastir in a crucial showdown against hosts AS Douanes, while APR takes on Rivers Hoopers in their next match.
Noel Obadiah of APR currently leads the scoring charts after the first leg games of the 2024 Sahara Conference. And with an average of 26.7 points in his debut BAL season, the American guard holds the highest scoring average across all conferences thus far.
After an impressive showing in the initial matches of the 2024 BAL Sahara Conference, Noel Obadiah, a recent addition to APR Basketball, has affirmed his status as a formidable scoring machine in his debut season in the Basketball Africa League.
Obadiah, who joined APR from the Westchester Knicks last month, a G-League affiliate of the New York Knicks, has significantly altered the team’s offensive dynamics for the better.
Under Mazen Trakh’s guidance, APR initiated early preparations for the BAL season, assembling all the necessary players to prepare them for continental competition. However, during their final preparations, the team faced a significant setback when their dependable point guard, Dixon Andree Michael, departed for Egypt’s Al Ittihad.
APR swiftly responded by bringing in Noel Obadiah, whose integration into the team proved to be a wise move, surpassing expectations set by Dixon. He led APR to victory in the GMT tourney with a convincing performance before the team journeyed to Dakar for the real challenge.
In Dakar, during the league opener, Noel Obadiah, alongside fellow American Adonis Filer, delivered a stellar performance with 24 points, leading APR to triumph over the 2022 BAL Champions, US Monastir. Despite Obadiah’s 32-point contribution the following day, APR fell short against the Rivers Hoopers, missing out on their second win of the conference.
In the third game against the hosts and last season’s finalists, AS Douanes, Noel Obadiah once again displayed his offensive prowess by scoring 24 points, concluding the 2024 Sahara Conference first leg games as the top scorer.
Not only is Noel Obadiah averaging the highest points per game in the Sahara Conference, but he also currently surpasses Lual Lual Acuil and Samkelo Cele, the top scoring leaders in other conferences. However, he still has three games remaining to master if he is determined to maintain his position at the top.
Noel Obadiah is on the verge of becoming an offensive threat.
Noel Obadiah scored a game-high of 24 points in his BAL debut.
Much like Devine Eke of the Hoopers, who currently posts offensive stats of 21 PPG and 3.6 APG, the American guard has cemented his status as a prolific scorer, consistently leading his team in points in every game. However, his offensive contributions have predominantly revolved around scoring, with less focus on facilitating plays through assists.
Despite his high scoring average, Noel Obadiah averages only 2.3 assists per game. In comparison, Rivers Hoopers’ Kelvin Amayo boasts 16.6 PPG and 9 APG, while AS Douanes’ Jacques Boissy maintains 12.3 PPG and 7.7 APG this season.
Marcus Christopher Crawford, currently playing for US Monastir, remains the all-time leading scorer in the BAL. Despite Monastir’s struggles with a 0-3 record, he averages 15 PPG and an impressive 10.7 assists per game this season, solidifying his status as a significant offensive threat in the league.
Noel Obadiah, as the primary ball handler and a key guard for APR, is expected to lead the Rwanda Champions to the playoffs in their debut BAL season. However, to leave a lasting impact on his BAL journey, he must improve his overall game, particularly in terms of facilitating teamwork.
In the 2024 Sahara Conference first leg games, APR, led by Obadiah, holds a record of 2-1, currently placing them second behind Rivers Hoopers.
Tomorrow, Noel Obadiah’s APR will face US Monastir in their fourth fixture of the 2024 BAL Sahara Conference Games.
Rwanda's Minister of Sports, Hon. Aurore Mimosa Munyangaju, presents the 2024 Peace Cup trophy to Police FC captain Dominic Savio Nshuti.
Police FC defeated Bugesera FC 2-1 in the 2024 Peace Cup final, securing their first major trophy in nine years.
Police Football Club clinched the Rwanda Peace Cup with a 2-1 win over Bugesera. The victory capped off a successful 2023–2024 season for Vincent Mashami and the team, which secured three trophies in total.
In a fiercely contested match that drew thousands of spectators from Bugesera district and police offices and command, Police FC asserted their dominance over the league strugglers, preventing them from clinching their first-ever Peace Cup title.
The game kicked off slightly later than the scheduled 3 p.m. KO time indicated on the fixture, likely due to the preceding 1st May workers’ games at Kigali Pelé Stadium. The match began at a slow pace, possibly influenced by the high temperatures at KPS.
After a scoreless first half, Police FC returned to the field with a strong determination to put an end to their nine-year wait for a major trophy. In the 57th minute, Muhadjiri Hakizimana unleashed a pinpoint pass to Jibrine Akuki, who confidently put the ball into the net, propelling the cops into the lead.
Akuki Jibrine celebrates after scoring the opening goal for Police FC against Bugesera in the 2024 Peace Cup final.
Nine minutes after taking the lead, Nsabimana Eric, also known as “Zidane,” capitalized on a well-delivered corner from Marc Nkubana to extend Police FC’s lead to two goals, significantly boosting their chances of securing the trophy.
Eric Nsabimana, originally a midfielder by formation, has transitioned to become a center back for Police FC. His goal proved instrumental in securing Police’s victory in the Peace Cup.
Francis Haringingo, a two-time Peace Cup winner and formerly the head coach of the Police, implemented significant changes to push his team forward. Vincent Adams’ entry proved essential, as he dictated the pace of the game.
Bugesera scored through Saifi Ssentengo, known as Faruk Ruhinda, as a result of this move. Despite having 9 minutes left to stage a comeback, Police FC’s strong defensive display prevented Bugesera’s efforts, ultimately allowing Police FC to finally claim the long-awaited trophy.
At the end of the 90 minutes, jubilation erupted not only among the players but also within the police command, led by CG Felix Namuhoranye, who was present at Kigali Pelé Stadium to witness his team’s greatest achievement of the season.
The 2024 Peace Cup trophy won’t be the only addition to Police FC’s trophy cabinet. The Rwanda National Police Team has previously won the EAPCCO games and the Heroes Cup this season. And there are no doubts that Vincent Mashami and the police have had a successful season.
Police FC, 2024 Peace Cup Winners
Police Football Club will represent Rwanda in the Africa Clubs Championship next year, carrying the nation’s flag with pride.
Jeannine Mukandayisenga proved her abilities by outmaneuvering four Indahangarwa defenders and scoring the second goal.
Jeannine Mukandayisenga’s exceptional four-goal display against Indahangarwa propelled Rayon Sports to secure their first-ever Peace Cup title and achieve a double in their inaugural season in Rwanda’s premier women’s football league.
KIGALI, April 30, Rayon Sports Women’s Football Club sealed a resounding 4-0 victory against Indahangarwa, claiming their first Peace Cup title. This achievement, coupled with their league title, signifies a triumphant conclusion to their debut season in Rwanda’s top-tier league.
Following her accolade as the league’s top scorer, Jeannine Mukandayisenga, also known as Kaboy, demonstrates her supremacy in the game by scoring all four goals in the match, concluding her first season with Rayon Sports as a hero in the blue jersey.
Jeannine Mukandayisenga and her teammates from Rayon Sports rejoicing in their win.
Having achieved a double with both the league title and the Peace Cup, Claude Rwaka’s Rayon Sports is not only set to compete in the CAF Women’s Champions League but also has the opportunity to vie for another title at the beginning of the next season; the Super Cup.
Rayon Sports received 11 million Rwandan Francs as incentives for winning the Peace Cup.
Rayon Sports will face Indahangarwa once more in the Super Cup
Special Olympics Rwanda, in partnership with the Rwanda School Sports Federation, has successfully concluded a three-day training program for technical directors representing various others at the national level. This initiative aims to enhance their expertise and capacity in inclusive sports within schools.
In Kigali, on April 26th, Special Olympics Rwanda (SOR) and the Rwanda School Sports Federation (RSSF) wrapped a three-day capacity-building workshop for technical directors nationwide. The training involved 21 technical directors, comprising three representatives from each league and an additional three from the national level.
From April 24th to April 26th, technical directors across the country gathered at the Centre Saint Vincent Pallotti to acquire knowledge about incorporating students with intellectual disabilities into sports alongside others without intellectual disabilities.
After the training, Mr. Eusebius Rugasire Kamugunga, Executive Secretary of the Rwanda School Sports Federation, conveyed thanks to Special Olympics Rwanda for their openness to forming a partnership with RSSF.
He said; “We express our gratitude to Special Olympics Rwanda for extending the opportunity to collaborate with us. Our previous deficiency lay in the training for individuals with intellectual disabilities. we anticipate signing a Memorandum of Understanding soon. The knowledge shared is highly valued and expected to greatly benefit our work. We eagerly look forward to a fruitful collaboration.” Mr. Rugasire Kamugunga
Eusebius Rugasire Kamugunga, on the left, and Pastor Deus Sangwa are jointly distributing certificates to participants.
In his mark to conclude a three-day event, Pastor Deus Sangwa, Board Chairman of SOR, encouraged participants to continue supporting the inclusion of individuals with intellectual disabilities in society and to uphold their role as positive ambassadors.
Pastor Deus Sangwa, Board Chairman of Special Olympics Rwanda
“Those who completed the training are now spreading their newfound knowledge across the entire country. Special Olympics is dedicated to bringing joy to athletes with intellectual disabilities and our mission is to promote their happiness and inclusion in the society. Keep being good ambassadors of this important cause.” Said the Chairman.
In the previous year, Special Olympics Rwanda, through the Unified Champion Schools project, distributed sports equipment to 210 schools across the country with 70 located in the Eastern Province, 40 in Kigali City, 25 in the Northern Province, 35 in the Western Province and 40 in the Southern Province.
The endeavor aimed to incorporate children with intellectual disabilities into sports alongside their peers without intellectual disabilities thus promoting inclusivity and alleviating feelings of isolation.
With the children equipped with full kits, the next step naturally involves capacity building.
The twenty-one trainees are tasked with the responsibility of instructing their fellow colleagues at the district level and providing guidance to coaches at the school level.
Since its inception in 2002, Special Olympics Rwanda, a non-governmental organization with an array of projects aimed at enhancing the health and well-being of people with intellectual disabilities, has played a significant role in developing physical fitness, organizing sports activities, and facilitating competitions among athletes with intellectual disabilities.
Mr. Richard Nyirishema, FERWABA's 2nd Vice President in charge of competitions.
FERWABA initiated the Maiden Rwanda Cup, providing basketball teams from all divisions with a new opportunity to compete for a trophys.
FERWABA launched an unprecedented yearly Rwanda Cup at BK Arena on April 26, featuring teams from both Division 1 and Division 2 in men’s and women’s categories, with the objective of intensifying competitionsand nurturing the growth of bench players
The Women’s games started on April 24, and the men’s competition tipped off, Friday, April 26, featuring group stage matchups.
In the men’s category, a total of 21 teams have confirmed their participation in the inaugural Rwanda Cup. The teams are divided into three groups of four teams each and one group of five teams.
Each team will play against the other teams in their group once. The four group winners will advance to the quarterfinals, where they will be matched with the top four clubs from last season, who have been granted automatic entry to the quarterfinals.
The tournament will proceed with single-elimination games, with teams competing until the final match. Additionally, a third-place game will be contested.
In the Women’s category, 7 teams are split into two groups, one with four teams and the other with three teams. From each group, two teams will progress to the semi-finals, and a single game in the semi-finals will determine the finalists with the losing teams competing for third place.
The rules and regulations will remain unchanged from those of the league.
Speaking to Mr. Richard Nyirishema, the Vice President overseeing Competitions at FERWABA, He notes that the Rwanda Cup stands as the second most prestigious local competition in the nation. He emphasizes that the victors will earn the chance to represent Rwanda in international tournaments.
He said, “The Rwanda Cup winners won’t be taking the trophy as a symbol. We are engaging our marketing team to seek out partners and sponsors, and the discussions are progressing positively. We’re committed to organize a highly competitive tournament with appealing incentives.” Declared FERWABA 2nd Vice President in charge of competitions
He added; “The victors in the men’s division will represent the nation in the Zone V Club Champions, while the women’s category winners will have the honor of being the country’s flag bearers in the Africa Women’s Basketball League Qualifiers, alongside the League Champions.”
Mr. Nyirishema also disclosed information about a forthcoming Men’s Zone V club championship, which will be launched soon. This non-FIBA tournament aims to enhance club competition among members of Zone V.
“We, as members of Africa’s Zone Five, have resolved to launch a new Men’s Club Championship independent of FIBA affiliation. This move is aimed at boosting basketball competition among our clubs. Typically, only league champions get the chance to compete in continental events. However, with the Zone V Club Championship, our second-ranked team will also have the opportunity to vie at the international level.”
Since the inception of the Basketball Africa League in 2020, the men’s zonal competition has been supplanted by the Road To BAL, which consists of qualifying rounds. These rounds determine the final 12 teams from across the continent that compete in the BAL regular season.
According to Mr. Nyirishema, FERWABA has decided that the Rwanda Cup winners will represent the country in the Zone V club championship, rather than the second-ranked team in the league.
FERWABA’s 2023 General Assembly resolution included the creation of the Rwanda Cup. And the newly launched inaugural Rwanda Cup will culminate on August 9, 2024, with the finals and award ceremonies.
