REG going all out to make a name in the AWBL in Egypt

 

(KIGALI) Rwanda - By bagging a silver medal in the FIBA Africa Women's Basketball League (AWBL) Zone 5 Qualifiers at home earlier this month, Rwanda Energy Group (REG) booked a ticket to the Africa show slated for Egypt from December 11-19.

The trip to North Africa will be the team’s first-ever biggest outing and they want to make it a memorable appearance. The two-time Rwanda champions are dreaming big and they believe they can make a name for themselves in the continent.

Until REG burst into the basketball scene in 2021, it was Armee Patriotique du Rwanda (APR), who for many years, remained a dominant force in the East Africa country.

REG won the national title in their debut year and did well a year later when they repeated as champions. But this season, they were upstaged by their nemesis APR who relegated them to a runners-up spot.

Esperance Mukaneza-coached side has gradually climbed the ladder as they shape up as a top women’s team both in Rwanda and in the region. Their focus now is to instil fear into the spine of every opponent.

Last year in their first regional tournament outside the borders, REG missed the bronze medal going down 42-39 to APR in a closely contested sibling rivalry played at the Benjamin Mkapa Indoor in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

While they stayed at home, APR boarded a plane to Maputo, Mozambique for the 2022 FIBA Africa Champions Cup Women, courtesy of a FIBA Africa wild card. Nothing went right as they lost all their six games, finishing eighth in a nine team tournament.

From that Dar es Salaam assignment, REG have put in efforts that paid huge dividend. This will be their time to fly the Rwanda flag in the annual competition that brings together Africa’s top cream.

Their reward came in a FIBA Africa Zone 5 event where they suffered a humiliating 87-53 loss at the hands of seasoned campaigners Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) at their own back yard.

 

They put up a strong performance stopping an all Kenyan finals when they stopped Equity Bank Hawks 71-61 in the Semi-Finals.

The result against KPA notwithstanding, there is little doubt that REG learnt their lessons and are ready for the task ahead. The preparations are ongoing and they remain upbeat about their chances in the tough task that lies ahead.

In Dar es Salaam, REG met and went down 49-45 to Alexandria Sporting Club (ASC) in a hard-fought Semi-Final game. It is worth noting that the Egyptian powerhouse went on to claim the Africa crown.

REG are in the process of strengthening various positions in the team as they shape up for the showdown in Egypt. Their main worry is at the point guard. The rest of the positions are well covered.

And with days left to the big date, the process is already on as the technical bench is out shopping for quality players to reinforce the existing squad.

To be able to compete against Africa’s top clubs, REG are working on team cohesion. On their radar are two or three quality signings as the tournament dates nears.

REG have five players who were in the sensational Rwanda national team that missed the bronze medal when they fell 89-52 to Mali in the 2023 FIBA Women's AfroBasket also hosted by Kigali.

They are shooting guard Micomyiza “Cisse” Rosine, play-maker Mwizerwa Fautine, shooting guard Kiyobe Chantal, forward Mushikiwabo Sandrine and center Rutagengwa Nadine.

Rosine led all scorers with 24 points against KPA, Congolese Betty Kalanga also had impressive stats throughout the tournament except in the finals where she posted only eight points and hauled seven boards will be key.

REG who prides themselves as fighters will go to the AWBL championships and show the rest of Africa what they are capable of achieving against the very best.

Nigerian head coach Rena Wakama became the first woman to guide D'Tigress to a Women's AfroBasket title in Kigali. That was much inspiration for Mukaneza, a third-year coach at REG, to also reach to the sky.

FIBA