The Hoops team will not be travelling to Paris for two-week training camp as had initially been scheduled, the basketball federation president Lt. Eric Ssalongo Kalisa has confirmed
The men’s team had been planned for the trip ahead of its participation in the 26th FIBA Africa Championship due in Madagascar from August 17-28 as well as the All Africa Games in Maputo, Mozambique in September.
However, in a sudden change of plan, which will surely surprise many hoops fans, Lt. Ssalongo Kalisa confirmed yesterday that the team will instead train in Kigali.
He said, “We have ruled against training in France because our main target of playing some friendly matches against African teams which are camping in Paris was not so successful as we had origanally planned.”
Ferwafa officials had planned to play build up matches against Angola, Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal and Mali but this was not possible.
However, Ssalongo added that there is a possibility of playing friendly matches against Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal and Congo en-route to Madagascar.
“There is a possibility of playing these countries before the team heads to Madagascar. We are revising plans of having them (the three teams) pass via Kigali before heading to Madagascar for the Fiba finals,” added Ssalongo.
The other teams which will compete in Madagascar tournament include; Tunisia, Cameroon, Nigeria, Togo, Senegal, Mali, Morocco, Central Africa republic, Chad, Mozambique, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, South Africa defending champion Angola.
Rwanda qualified for the quadrennial games after clinching the Zone V championship title in February.