Rwanda’s Men’s National Basketball Team is through to the quarterfinals of the FIBA AfroCan after beating Mozambique 73-62
Rwanda defeated Mozambique and advanced to the quarterfinals after overpowering them from behind the three-point line. They hit 12 of 28 three-point attempts, outscoring Mozambique, who attempted 23 and made only 7.
Despite dominating the paint, the Mozambicans struggled throughout the game, mostly due to long-range and mid-range shots. They finished the game with 35.1% of the field goals, while Rwandans had 42.1%.
Dieudonné Ndizeye Ndayisaba led the way with 16 points, and the other Rwandans in double figures were William Robeyns (15 points) and Ntore Habimana (14 points).
Augusto Pio da Costa Matos led Mozambique with 12 points.
Rwanda’s 2023 FIBA AfroCan group stage games finished in a 58-59 loss against lowly-ranked Morocco on Monday. As a result of finishing last in Group C, they were forced to compete against Mozambique in a classification game that determined Angola’s opponent in the quarter-finals.
The Palancas Negras had qualified for the Quarter-Finals fixture by finishing at the top of the Group B.
This is the first time Rwanda has reached this level in any continental showcase. They will face Angola in the quarterfinals tomorrow at the Kilamba Arena.
Rwanda will take on Mozambique on Wednesday, July 12, in a bid to advance to the quarterfinals of the AfroCan Games in Luanda, Angola, following the group stage conclusion on a lower note.
Rwanda suffered back-to-back defeats against Tunisia and Morocco in the 2023 AfroCan Group C games, a result that does not ensure the country of a thousand hills a straight spot in the quarter-finals. As a result, the tournament’s format requires them to compete in a classification round for the quarter-finals in knockout matches.
In Group D, the defending champions, DR Congo did not slip as they qualified straight to the quarter-finals beating Cameroon in the first game and trouncing Mozambique by a 19-point margin in the second. Mozambique beat Cameron as well, finishing second to the DRC.
Rwanda, third in Group C, will face Mozambique, the second-ranked team in Group D, on Wednesday, July 12, to decide Angola’s opponent in the quarter-final showdown slated for Thursday, July 13.
Angola topped Group B after edging out Mali and Nigeria.
Kenya Morans, the other East African participant and previous edition’s finalists, topped Group A and will rub shoulders with the winner of Cameroon and Morocco in the quarter-finals.
Tunisia, the Group C leaders, will play either Mali or Côte d’Ivoire. All games are being held at the Pavilhao Multiusos de Luanda also known as Arena do Kilamba.
All of the teams are resting today and training.
The AfroCan is a quadrennial FIBA Africa event held two years after the AfroBasket. It is intended for African players who play in Africa, with the exception of two players who play beyond the continent, and the competition’s purpose is to give local players more exposure.
Angola is hosting the second edition, following Mali’s hosting of the inaugural event in 2019.
APR VC celebrating the Liberation Cup | Photo: Innocent Shema
APR Volleyball Club and Police Women Volleyball Club on Sunday claimed the inaugural Rwanda Volleyball Liberation Cup. They were victorious after defeating Gisagara VC and APR WVC respectively in BK Arena
The Army side took home the maiden Liberation Cup title following a deserving victory over a strong Gisagara VC team. Sam Mulinge’s APR won 3-1 sets (25-21, 25-22, 25-23, and 27-25) over Yakan’s Gisagara, who was missing injured Samuel Niyogisubizo.
On their way to the final, APR VC dismissed Police VC 3-1 (19-25, 25-22, 25-19, and 25-16), while Gisagara overcame their rivals REG VC 3-1(25-22, 18-25, 25-15, and 25-22) in the other semi-final.
Police Women’s Volleyball Club | courtesy
In the women’s category, Police Volleyball Club defeated APR 3-1 (25-14, 25-18, 20-25, and 25-14) to win the first Liberation Cup. Police eliminated Ruhango in the semi-finals, while the Army side defeated RRA.
REG VC and RRA VC came in third place in both the men’s and women’s categories.
The two-day competition attracted 12 teams from both the men’s and women’s categories. The winners earned Rwf 1 M, the first runners-up pocked 700 000 Rwf, and the second runners-up received 500 000 Rwf.
The Liberation Day is held every year on the 4th of July, marking the day the Rwandan Patriotic Army stopped the Genocide against the Tutsi. This year, Rwanda marks the 29th anniversary of liberation.
A week after the completion of the Genocide Memorial Tournament, Rwanda Volleyball Federation initiated the Liberation Cup to pay honor to those who gave their lives so that every Rwandan citizen might live a decent life.
The first tournament’s winners APR VC and Police WVC will live on in memory.
The Rwanda Basketball League D2 quarter-finals Tipped off and Intare shocked Kepler | Photo: Kepler
Intare Basketball Club staged a late rally to stun the Kepler with a 68-67 nail-biting victory and took advantage of the first game of the Rwanda Basketball League Division 2 quarterfinal Playoffs.
Intare fought back from a five-point deficit in the fourth quarter to hand RBL D2 Group B leaders its first loss in nine games, on Friday night at Kimironko Sports & Community Space.
Kepler led by six points (22-21, 23-18) after two quarters before the APR Juniors, Intare grabbed control of the game and staged a late rally and amazing comeback.
Kepler’s Jonathan Mugabo goes for a dunk in a fully packed Kimironko Sports And Community space
In the third quarter, Intare, under the guidance of Jean-Paul Hirwa and Eric Munyaneza put in a perimeter defense to force Kepler numerous turnovers and bad shots which resulted in a lower score of 12-11.
Larson Shema Niyibizi and Fabrice Byiringiro led a tenacious Intare team that outscored one of the league’s title contenders late in the game.
The score was tight with 12 seconds remaining, when Furaha Lajoie Muburanyi draw a foul and awarded two free throws that, if converted, would have tied the game at 68. Instead, the Kepler PG only succeeded on one of his two attempts.
Intare misused the timeout requested and give away a ball possession with 8 seconds remaining. Rene Sahabu also asked for a timeout; his tactics were successful in breaking down the opponent’s man-to-man defense, but Patrick Murwanashyaka missed an open layup that would have killed the game. Thus, Intare cruised to a well-deserved victory.
Intare’s Larson Shema Niyibizi, Fabrice Byiringiro, and Ismael Niyonkuru all scored in double figures. 15, 14, and 13 respectively. Furaha Lajoie Muburanyi and Patrick Murwanashyaka both had 13 points for Kepler, while Patrick Rwema “stingy” chipped in with ten.
Intare seized the lead in the best-of-three quarterfinal series, with the second game planned for today, Saturday, July 8, in Kepler.
Elsewhere, the Flame handed Rusizi Basketball Club its first loss of the season. A surprise result of 89-74 compels Rusizi to play a do-or-die game in the second game today if they want to advance and return to the top-division league.
In the other quarterfinal games, Inspired Generation thrashed ITS Kigali 93-56, while The Hoops Junior defeated Azomco 80-77 in another all-offensive game of this playoff series.
Today, the teams take the court for their second game at Kepler.
Kepler vs Flame during the regular season. Kepler prevailed in this game with 92-67 | Photo: Kepler
The Rwanda Basketball League Division 2 playoffs for the 2023 season begin today, Friday, July 7th, at Kepler and the Kimironko Sports & Community Space; with a pair of matchups that are expected to add to the thrill of the league’s fantastic regular seasons concluded last month.
With the regular season wrapping up last month, the RBL Division 2 is set for more heated battles when the playoffs begin today.
Eight teams will compete in the quarterfinals, with four advancing to the semis in a best-of-three series. And only two clubs will be promoted to the top-tier league.
Rusizi Basketball Club seems to be on its road back to the top flight. The Rusizi district-sponsored team was demoted to the second division last season, but they proved that they do not belong there by winning all of their regular-season games and advancing to the playoffs with an unbeaten record (16-0). In the quarter-finals, Rusizi rubs shoulders with Flame (9-7)
On the other side, Kepler enters the Rwanda Basketball League playoffs as Group B’s top seed with the league’s second-best regular season record (15-1). Intare (9-7) will be the opponent for the Sahabu-coached team in the opening round.
In the other quarterfinals matchups, ITS Kigali faces Inspired Generation while The Hoops take on Azomco.
With a 12-4 record, ITS Kigali finished third in Group A during the regular season. Inspired Generation comes second in Group A, with a 14-2 win/loss record.
The Hoops Juniors, based at Lycée de Kigali, finished second in Group A and advanced to the postseason with a 12-4 record. Azomco from Bugesera finished in third place in Group B with an 11-5 record.
As approved at the General Assembly, the four teams who finished bottom will be demoted. The top two teams in the second tier division will be promoted to the RBL, hence a team will need to just make it to the final to earn promotion to the top tier division.
The Quarterfinal matchups:
Rusizi BBC vs Flame, 6 pm at Kepler
Intare vs Kepler, 6 pm at Kimironko
The Hoops vs Azomco, 8 pm Kepler
ITS Kigali vs Inspired Generation, 8 pm at Kimironko
The best-of-three series’ second games are slated for tomorrow at Kepler.
Rwanda’s national basketball team has left for Luanda, Angola to compete in the FIBA AfroCan tournament slated for July 8 to July 16, 2023
The players and officials left on Wednesday evening through Addis Ababa and will arrive in Luanda today. The team is led by Yves Murenzi, with the assistance of Kenneth Gasana and Aristide Mugabe.
Gasana, the current team captain is sidelined for this tournament due to an Achilles tendon, He will, however, be one of the assistant coaches. since Dr Check Sarr will be preparing the Women’s team for the 2023 AfroBasket slated for late this month. Mugabe will serve as the first assistant coach.
The players are led by Dieudonné Ndizeye Ndayisaba. He is joined by Patriots teammates Steven Hagumintwari and Kendal Gray, as well as REG center Dick Sano Rutatika. And the team will be relying on APR combo guards William Robeyns and Nshobozwabyosenumukiza.
Rwanda who qualified for 2023 AfroCan in June are seeded in Group C with Morocco and Tunisia. They will tip-off their campaign against Tunisia on July 8 and will take on Morocco on 9th July at group stage level.
The country of a thousand hills will be participating in the AfroCan for the first time, and Angola become the second country to organize the competition since Mali hosted the inaugural edition in 2019. DRC are the defending Champions
12-man roster for 2023 FIBA AfroCan:
Jean Jacques Wilson Nshobozwabyosenumukiza, Cadeaux de Dieu Furaha, Dan Manzi Kimasa, Dieudonné Ndizeye Ndayisaba, Steven Hagumitwari, Kendal Gray, William Robyens, Dick Sano Rutatika, Ntore Habimana, Patrick Ngabonziza, Olivier Turatsinze, and Emile Galois Kazeneza.
Mukura announces the contract extension of Nicholas Sebwato | Photo: Mukura
Mukura Victory Sports & Loisirs’ first-team goalkeeper, Nicholas Sebwato has signed a new contract with the Huye-based club. The new contract will see him stay at the club until 2025.
The Ugandan-born goalkeeper signed a contract extension with the club on Monday, July 3rd, putting an end to rumors of a move to another Rwanda Premier League side.
The 30-year-old goalkeeper’s contract ended this summer, and he had been linked with a move to Sunrise, among other teams, but he opted to stay at Huye International Stadium to remain the club’s number one.
Sebwato got roughly Rwf 10 million as a signing-on fee and one million Rwandan francs as a monthly wage under the new contract, making him the most expensive goalie in the club’s history.
Sebwato joined Mukura from Sofapaka in 2021, following an unsuccessful pre-season stint with Tanzanian club Namungo. Since then, the Huye-based side has been in good hands, and Sebwato proved to be one of the best all-around goalkeepers in the Rwanda Premier League.
With Number 45 on his back, Sebwato kept 13 clean sheets in his RPL debut season, winning the hearts of Yellow and Black supporters and being nominated for the Rwanda Premier League team of the year by many media outlets.
Besides 7 clean sheets in the league in the 2022/2023 season, the Former Onduparaka GK helped Mukura finish sixth despite a bad recruitment policy prior to the season. Mukura finished third in the 2023 Peace Cup alongside Sebwato under the direction of Lotfi Afahmia.
He has formerly played at Proline FC, Sports Club Villa, Solito Bright Stars, Onduparaka FC, and Sofapaka
The cerebrations of the Achievements from the games
Special Olympics Rwanda fraternity on Friday night hosted players and officials of the team from Germany for dinner and gala night after a successful outing at the 2023 Special Olympics World Games in Berlin.
At the Ubumwe Grande Hotel, Special Olympics Rwanda exhibited the medals acquired from the World Games, which were attended by 190 nations. In an event highlighted by praise, socializing, and gift-giving, it was an excellent opportunity to reaffirm the message that “disability is not inability.”
In his remarks to welcome the guests, Pastor Deus Sangwa was full of compliments in a very joyous manner.
“On this unique evening, a pleasant evening, there aren’t enough words to convey our excitement and happiness on this particular day.”
Pastor Deus Sangwa, SOR Chairman
“We were on a mission to represent the country in the World Games in Berlin, Germany. We did well, chased, and won medals that most of you don’t see in other sports.” Said the chairman of SOR
He continued: “We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude personally to Patience Irafasha for her outstanding accomplishment in the recently ended World Games. Actually, we traveled to Germany in search of gold medals; Patience made us really proud by winning a gold medal in Bocce.”
“I must acknowledge the five ministries that we work with on a daily basis as part of a quest for Inclusion and participation of people with Intellectual Disabilities in Society before I come to an end. The Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, the Ministry of Local Government, the Ministry of Sports, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Education. They make excellent partners” Pastor Deus Sangwa
Alphonsine Nyiraneza spoke on behalf of the parents and commended Special Olympics Rwanda for assisting them in raising their children
“Actually, we had no idea what these youngsters were capable of. We didn’t know what they were going to do when they left home to train for the World Games, but they did it to make us proud, and it is very obvious that they are now helping not only their families but also the nation.” Said Madam Nyiraneza
Alphonsine Nyiraneza spoke on behalf of the parents
Marianne Niyonsaba, an athlete, claims that being successful in sports makes them proud to be children like everyone else in society
“We are appreciative to Special Olympics Rwanda for facilitating our interactions with other children without intellectual Disabilities, allowing us to mingle, have fun, and gain an understanding that people with disabilities are capable despite being excluded for a long time. We get confidence from winning just as the other children do.”
A huge number of athletes and their parents gathered, and there was a gift-giving ceremony in which the athletes delivered gifts to their parents to thank them for not confining them to the backyard to hide their talents
Athletes delivering gifts to their parents.
SOR took the opportunity to thank all of its World Games representatives by giving them recognition certificates. They even had a special gift for the Ministry of Sports for the active role it has shown in making the journey possible
Emmanuel Ndayisaba receiving SOR’s gift to Ministry of Sports
In Rwanda, it should be mentioned that only teams of people with impairments contest at the world scale and bring silverware. It is in that vein, Mr. Emmanuel Ndayisaba, Executive Secretary of the National Council of Persons with Disabilities, stated that the government should focus its efforts on the sports that yield results.
The Special Olympics Rwanda delegation received a very enthusiastic welcome upon their return home, following a stunning journey at the Special Olympics World Games 2023 in Berlin, Germany.
On June 27, The Rwandan team was greeted and garlanded at the Kigali International Airport by officials from Special Olympics Rwanda and Athletes’ family members. The SOR athletes with the medals around their necks, could not keep the beaming smile off their faces as they enjoyed the homecoming festivities
The 2023 Special Olympics World Games started on June 17, and concluded on Sunday, June 25, in Germany. 7,000 Special Olympics athletes and Unified partners from approximately 190 countries competed in 24 sports.
Rwanda, with 26 delegates including 15 athletes, competed in three sports and did not disappoint.
In Bocce (single female), Patience Irafasha bagged the team’s only gold medal while In Athletics, Milliam Niyomukunzi came in third to take the bronze medal in 100 meters.
In men’s category, Fabrice Niyibeshaho finished fourth in the 100-meter sprint while Bruce Cyemayire got a fifth place in bocce.
In Women’s Football, Rwanda’s national team faced Belgium in the final match of the 2023 Special Olympics World Games. Following a full-time draw, Belgium prevailed on penalties, and Rwanda finished second and was awarded silver medals.
When addressing the media, Pastor Deus Sangwa, the chairman of Special Olympics Rwanda describes the competition journey as a success.
Pastor Deus Sangwa, SOR Chairman.
“We competed in three sports—football, bocce, and athletics—and did well as we had promised everyone. Through the prayers we’ve had so many blessings from God, behave nicely and we won medals in each and every discipline in which we have participated.” Said Pastor Sangwa
He added; “Our journey went smoothly overall; since we had a doctor, none of our athletes had any concerns during the games.”
Special Olympics Rwanda delegation from the 2023 Special Olympics Games.
In contrast to the 2019 Games held in UAE, which included numerous athletes with physical impairments, Rwanda exclusively featured competitors with intellectual disabilities this year.
The next World Games will be held in Italy in 2025. Later, Rwanda will host the Pan-African Games in 2026
Gisagara Volleyball Club and Police Women Volleyball Club lifted the trophies after emerging overall winners for men and women respectively during the 2023 Genocide Memorial Tournament.
Yakan’s Gisagara devastated the defending champions 3-0 in the men’s category 25-19, 25-21, and 25-19 to win the main trophy and rwf 1M cash prize.
The Gisagara district-based club under the tutelage of Sylvester Ndayisaba, Wycliff Dusenge, Ronald Muvara, Kathbert Malinga, Amadou Djibril, and Samuel Niyogisubizo overwhelmed REG Volleyball Club, lifting the trophy they last won in 2021.
Setter Ndayisaba, also team captain, starred for Gisagara with a brilliant command and performance while Samuel Niyogisubizo “Tyson” had been doing what he does best, spiking the ball aggressively hard with a powerful arm swing.
The women’s final was an all-Rwandan affair as well, as Police WVC bested RRA 3-0 (25-20, 25-10, 25-14). Catherine Ayinembabazi from Ndejje University led the cops to defeat APR in the semi-finals and cruise through RRA in the final game at BK Arena.
Rwanda National Police Women Volleyball Club | Courtesy
APR Volleyball Clubs emerged third in both men’s and women’s categories.
Along with the medals, the winners got 1 million Rwandan francs in cash rewards, while the second and third runners-up pocked 700,000 and 500,000 Rwf respectively
The two-day competition began on Saturday and concluded on Sunday when over 21 teams showed up at BK Arena, Kimisagara Gymnasium, Kimironko Sports and community space, Notre Dame des Anges, Wellspring, and Apacope courts for the high-stakes games.
This year, the tournament attracted Volleyball teams from Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, and South Sudan making it one of the most competitive and enjoyable tournaments in the region.
The yearly event is held in memory of volleyball players, coaches, administrators, and spectators who were killed during the Tutsi Genocide in 1994. It has been organized continuously since 1995.
The 1994 Tutsi Genocide claimed the lives of more than 50 members of the volleyball fraternity.
