BUJUMBURA (Burundi) - Landry Ndikumana, one of Burundi's elite basketballers is set to captain Urunani Basketball Club on their return to the Road to BAL Elite 16 since 2022.
FIBA.basketball profiles here the Burundian champions' journey to the Elite 16 round.
HOW THEY QUALIFIED FOR THE ROAD TO BAL
The club missed out on the Qualifying Tournament in 2023, having lost their national title to rivals Dynamo BBC.
2024 was, however, a year of redemption for Urunani who were crowned the Viva Basketball League (VBL) Elite 8 winners, going on to lift the Playoffs title as well in a seven-game thrilling Final against Dynamo.
The side led 3-1 but Dynamo staged a comeback with back-to-back wins to level the series, Urunani winning the decider to qualify for the 2025 Road to BAL.
HOW THEY QUALIFIED FOR THE ELITE 16
Placed in East Division Group D qualifiers held in Kibaha, Tanzania, the club nicknamed 'Sisi Wenyewe' went on a hunt, bringing on board two-time All-BAL first team player American Marcus Christopher Crawford.
To complete their reinforcement Urunani penned a deal with 2023 BAL Coach of the Year Mamadou 'Pabi' Gueye, and deputised by Hakizimana, he marshalled his troops to a 4-0 run in the Road to BAL East Division Group D qualifiers, ending the Phase unbeaten to qualify.
Urunani picked wins against Tanzania's JKT (83-60), Seychelles Beau Vallon Heat (112-43), Nairobi City Thunder (89-88) and Madagascar's GNBC (112-56).
KEY PLAYERS IN THE GROUP PHASE OF THE ROAD TO BAL
Jean Jacques Boissy and Mohamed Doumbya led the scoring charts averaging 26 and 20.3 points, respectively. Olisemeka and Sibanyoni averaged 9.5 rebounds each and Crawford came second to the top scorer.
Gueye has Boissy, one of his national team players, bossing the floor as well as Doumbya who has featured for the 3x3 side internationally.
Besides Crawford, Urunani also roped in Nigerian Peter Olisemeka, the duo joining an already star-studded line up that featured league Most Valuable Player (MVP) Jean-Jacques Boissy, an NBA Academy Africa graduate who has been to the BAL Finals twice with AS Douanes.
South African Sibanyoni Nkonsinathi Sandile, the VBL defensive player of the year and Senegalese sensation Mohamed Doumbya who had helped the then Elvis Hakizimana-coached side to the title were named in the squad for Kibaha too.
HEAD COACH
With award-winning tactician Gueye leading Urunani, the side is preparing to go all the way this time in the Elite 16, having lost in the semis back in 2022.
And who better to lead them than the man who has coached AS Douanes, his former club as a player, to three editions of BAL.
The Senegalese side has reached the BAL Playoffs on all three occasions under Gueye's leadership, losing the 2023 Final to Al Ahly. They lost the 2021 and 2024 editions in the quarters and with the arsenal Urunani are assembling for the Elite 16, expectations are high.
NEW ADDITIONS
Urunani have added Nigerian Chris Obekpa who has featured for Guinean side SLAC in 2022 and ABC Fighters in 2023.
CLUB HISTORY AND MANAGEMENT
As they head for the Elite 16, Urunani are out to write more history for the club founded in 1979 and is currently headed by president Nkonyereza Aimé.
True to their name, Urunani, which means 'being together, a strong and indestructible network', the club continues to bring joy to the thousands of fans who turnout to watch them ball out week in week out at the Terrain Département.
FIBA