As a preparatory strategy for the FIBA Africa men’s U-18 Championship due in August 25 to 4th September 2016, Rwanda is making early preparations.
The country’s Junior basketball team is set to depart for the U.S this Sunday where they will play a number of build up matches and have specialized training.
Rwanda Basketball Federation (FERWABA) president Desire Mugwiza confirmed the trip to New Times;
We have planned for a ten days training camp in USA and will also play against some teams there, it is good that the team will have enough warm-up matches and we will have time to assess our level of playing.
For us we want to play many matches which will raise the fitness levels of our players before taking part in such a competitive tournament
In the U.S, the team coached by Moise Mutokambali will play several friendly matches against Cameroon and Mali, and the Colleges of Arizona, Phoenix and Tucson.
The Junior players have been playing in the National Basketball League so as to give the youngsters more experience and confidence.
At the moment they are in eighth position with 21 points in the 10 league team championship.
Rwanda will host the FIBA Africa Men’s U-18 Championships with 12 countries already confirmed.
The top two will qualify for the 2017 FIBA U-19 Men’s World Championship that will take place for the first time in Cairo, Egypt.
Relatedly, the FIBA Afro Basketball Women’s U-18 category will be staged in Egypt in July 2016.
