Rwanda backs RSSB Tigers for historic BAL debut after late call-up

Published –

By Maxwell Kumoye 
 
 
 
Rwanda’s Sports Minister, Nelly Mukazayire, has rallied behind RSSB Tigers ahead of their historic debut at the Basketball Africa League 2026, assuring the team of full government backing as they prepare to represent the nation on the continental stage.

The Tigers were drafted into the competition by FERWABA to replace APR BBC in the Kalahari Conference following the latter’s withdrawal two weeks ago. 

The conference is scheduled to take place from March 27 to April 5 in Pretoria.

Mukazayire, who visited the team’s training camp at Petit Stade on Tuesday, commended the players, coaches, and technical crew for stepping up at short notice to take on the responsibility of flying Rwanda’s flag.

“Given the circumstances of the past two weeks, I would like to thank each of the players, the coaches, and the technical team for your flexibility and determination in forming the team we have today,” she said. 

“I strongly believe that out of adversity comes resilience and even more special things. I believe we have the best team we’ve ever had.”

The minister, alongside FERWABA, reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring the team is adequately supported throughout the tournament, urging the players to approach every game with a champion’s mindset.

RSSB Tigers, under the guidance of head coach Henry Mwinuka and his assistants James Maye Jr and Kenny Gasana, face a tough challenge in the Kalahari Conference.

Their opponents include reigning champions Al Ahly Benghazi, Johannesburg Giants, Dar City, Nairobi City Thunder, and Petro de Luanda.

Despite limited preparation time, Mwinuka expressed confidence in his squad’s readiness, highlighting the strong chemistry built within a short period.

“We had a short time to prepare, but the chemistry has been very good. I believe the team is ready,” he said.

Team captain Antino Jackson echoed the coach’s optimism, stressing unity within the squad as they gear up for their maiden BAL campaign.

“Everybody is on the same page, and I think we are ready to play,” Jackson said.

The Tigers head into the tournament as underdogs but buoyed by national support and belief, aiming to make a strong impression in their first appearance on Africa’s premier club basketball stage.
KEYWORDS (SEO)

Comments

Post a Comment

...IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Olukismet FC pens monumental deal with Hungarian top-tier side Kisvarda

Published –
Image
By Mishael Emmanuel    Ekiti State based Nigerian club Olukismet Football Club has signed a historic partnership deal with Hungarian top-flight outfit Kisvarda FC, as the Kisvarda based side looks to collaborate on players discovery, development and exposure to top levels of European and world football. The momentous partnership comes from the boots of talented midfielder prodigy, Ridwan Abdulrazak, who paved the way with a host of outstanding performances in Hungarian football circuit. Abdulrazak was previously scouted from Olukismet Football Club.   Following a strategic partnership meeting held in Lagos, last week, the President of Kisvarda FC, Revesz Atilla Utja, Portuguese FIFA football agent, Andre Cabete Portulez and Prince Olumide Fetus Adegboye graced Top Level Football Agency's football scouting tournament held over the weekend in the 'City of Excellence and Aquatic Splendor', in search for exceptional footballing talents in the mould of renowned Nig...
Read more

Experience, effort — Edo State's rise to Table Tennis success, Coach Goriola Olayiwola Wahab

Published –
Image
...Secures 13 medals as table tennis event comes to an end By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye in Abuja           From grass to grace, this is the inside story of Team Edo State's rise in table tennis, the once uneducated side powered by eagerness is now a consistent medal winner for the Heartbeat State. These are the words of the head coach of Team Edo table tennis, Goriola Olayiwola Wahab in an exclusive interview with FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG's Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye at the ongoing National Para Games in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. Coach Wahab, fond called Mr. Consistent, led Team Edo to secure 13 medals Games, 4 gold, 3 silver and 6 bronze medals. For coach Wahab in the Table Tennis coaching business it all began 1991, in Bauchi, when he teaching special athletes the games of pingpong. He then started working with the Spinal Cord Injury Association of Nigeria to help educate and train more athletes. “I started coac...
Read more

Hammer thrower Falana vows to rule Africa

Published –
Image
 By Mishael Emmanuel         Gabon’s national hammer record holder, Kenza Falana, is certain that her time to rule the spotlight and make headlines is now. It’s a medal within reach for the young Gabonese hammer thrower who was selected to represent her country at the CAA U-18/20 Championship, holding in Abeokuta, Ogun State, South-West, Nigeria. The 18-year-old who broke into the international stage a year ago at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, added that she is looking to revive the spirit of unity, commitment and collaboration — to back rising athletes in Africa. Speaking before silver-finish at the biennial championship, Falana said she was ready to rule the continent as soon as possible. She said: “I think it finally my chance with what I’m doing this Championships. I’ve been thinking of it this past year, thinking it would be such an opportunity to travel to Nigeria and even win a gold medal,” Falana stated in an interview with First ZealMe...
Read more

El-Kanemi suffer first defeat, as Kun Khalifat get first win

Published –
Image
 By Mishael Emmanuel with additional reports    El-Kanemi Warriors FC got their first taste of defeat of the 2025/26 Nigeria Professional Football League season, as the fell to Kun Khalifat FC away from home, in a lively showdown at the Enyimba International Stadium, Aba, South-East, Nigeria. The highly anticipated game kicked off, with the home fans turning up in numbers to support their team and the hosts wasted no time in showing their intent as they started brightly, creating two clear-cut chances in the opening exchanges, coming agonizing close to breaking the deadlock.   Kun Khalifat kept knocking and their persistence paid off in the 34th minute as they took the lead, enjoying the comfort of a 1-0 halftime advantage. After the restart, El-Kanemi Warriors responded with fierce determination, leveling the scoreline, with the first play of the second half, as Ebuka Okoro scored a stunning volley to level at 1-all.   The celebrations were short-li...
Read more

Poor scheduling of the Games, the reason behind Algeria’s underwhelming outing — Dr. Hafed Amine

Published –
Image
By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye           A key and prominent figure in the Algerian Athletics Federation (AAF), Dr. Hafed Mohamed Amine, has attributed Team Algeria’s subdued performance at the Islamic Solidarity Games to what he described as “poorly timed scheduling.” He made this statement during an exclusive interview with FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG's Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye, emphasizing that the timing of the Games collided with a crucial preparation window for Algeria’s elite athletes, a clash that significantly affected the team’s strength and participation. He stated that many of the country’s top performers were unavailable because they were deep in preparations for major international competitions. “This edition of the Islamic Solidarity Games was challenging for the Algerian Athletics Federation because the dates selected were not suitable,” he said. “The competition took place during a key preparation period for mos...
Read more

NPBL shockwaves, Hoops N’ Read almost out as Kano Pillars humble Lagos Legends

Published –
Image
By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye It’s heartbreak in the Lagos camp. Once the pride of Nigerian basketball, Hoops N’ Read BBC are almost out of the ongoing abridged Nigeria Premier Basketball League (NPBL) — ending their hopes of getting continental action. Despite a spirited 74–67 win over Nigeria Customs on Match Day 6 in Port Harcourt, the Lagos side’s late rally wasn’t enough to keep their Basketball Africa League (BAL) dream alive. With just two wins in six games, Hoops N’ Read sit sixth on the log — a far cry from their glory days as league heavyweights. Elsewhere, Gboko City Chiefs continued their ruthless march, dismantling Kwara Falcons 74–60. Led by the high-flying Kareem Joseph, a dunk specialist with a flair for flair, the Chiefs showed no mercy.  “This win proves our discipline and ability to execute,” Joseph said after the game — and his team’s performance backed it up. But the real drama unfolded in Game 3. The previously unbeaten Lagos Legends were ri...
Read more

World record holder Amusan breeze into the women's 100m hurdles semi final

Published –
Image
...Records joint fifth fast qualifying time with Masai Russell ...Ajayi, Okon in search of slots in men's 100m, as Okezie, Ogazi begins Tokyo expedition today  By Maxwell Kumoye        Women's world record holder Tobi Amusan comfortably cruised into the semi final of the 100m on Sunday morning in Tokyo, Japan at the ongoing World Athletics Championships. Running in the final heat of the race, Amusan produced a quick start off the block that included heavyweights like Devynne Charlton and Elena Carraro to finish in 12.53s without dropping a sweat. Devynne Charlton came second in 12.69s and Elena Carraro in 12.86s which was enough to see them through to the semi final of Monday. Amusan's timing was the 5th fastest in the six heats on Sunday morning. Jamaica's Danielle Williams topped with her 12.40s in heat 2 ahead of Grace Stark in 12.46s, Nadine Visser 12.48s and Pia Skrzyszowska 12.51s. Masai Russell, running in heat 1 also stopped the clock the sam...
Read more

NFF President, SSA to the President, others, arrive Morocco ahead of Playoffs

Published –
Image
By Mishael Emmanuel with additional reports    Nigeria continues to build momentum ahead of their make or mar 2026 World Cup Qualifier Playoff encounter against West African counterparts Gabon with key stakholders touching down in Morocco.   The high-power delegation was led by President, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Musa Gusau; Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sports Development, Hon. Adeboye Anthony Adeyinka; the General Secretary, Nigeria Football Federation and President, Authentic Nigeria Football and Allied Sports Supporters Club (ANFASSC), Prince Abayomi Ogunjimi. Their collective presence in the sunny North African nation reflects urgent efforts to ensure that the three-time African champions do not fall out along this final streak of important fixtures on the road to the World Cup finals scheduled to be hosted by Canada, America and Mexico next year. The arrival of football and government representatives underscores the colla...
Read more

From Kano Dala Hard Courts to the helm of Nigerian Tennis – Yusuf Datti

Published –
Image
By Maxwell Kumoye       When Alhaji Yusuf Datti walked into the election hall at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja, last Saturday, he was already known in Nigerian tennis circles as a man of quiet influence and enduring commitment. As Tournament Director of the famous Kano Dala Hard Courts Tennis Championship, one of Nigeria’s oldest and most prestigious tennis events, Datti had spent years nurturing talents, sustaining sponsorships, and keeping the spirit of the game alive in the North. By the end of that day, his name would be etched on a larger canvas. Datti was overwhelmingly elected Vice President of the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF) — a recognition not just of his administrative acumen but of his consistency in building tennis from the grassroots upward. A RESOUNDING MANDATE In an election supervised by the National Sports Commission (NSC), Datti secured 12 out of 14 votes, a landslide that underscored his broad acceptance within the tennis commun...
Read more

National Sports Commission reassigns Federations and Associations Secretary Generals

Published –
Image
...Rita Mosindi of athIetics moved to NSF/PARA, Peter Njoku of Basketball now to serve as Zonal Coordinator South-South  ...Ejiro Thukson of scrabble now in chess as Ikhana Mbora leaves Lagos to serve as Deputy Director, Federation - FEAD By Maxwell Kumoye      The National Sports Commission (NSC), has reassigned Secretary Generals of the various National Sports Federations and Associations. Rita Mosindi of AthIetics has been moved to NSF/PARA, Peter Njoku of Basketball is now the Coordinator of the NSC in the South-South zone, in Benin. While the scribe of the Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF), Mrs Ejiro Thukson has been moved to the Nigeria Chess Federation (NCF). AthIetics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), will now be handled by Inwang Israel Mfon, formerly with Mixed Martial Arts.  Olalekan Faseesin of Teqball takes over Boxing Federation from Dapo Akinyele and Anusa Agoga Victor of Wheelchair Tennis Federation is now the scribe of Nigeria Scrabble Fe...
Read more