New coach and three Rwandan internationals headline Patriots' new signings for the BAL

KIGALI (Rwanda) - Patriots Basketball Club's rebuilding is in full swing as three Rwandan internationals and a new head coach have joined the hosts of the inaugural Basketball Africa League (BAL). 

Rwandan rising start Jean Jacques Wilson Nshobozwabyosenumukiza (main photo), Elie Kaje and Kenneth Gasana have become the Patriots' latest additions.

Nshobozwabyosenumukiza last played for local rivals REG in the 2019 edition of the FIBA AfroLeague Qualifiers, while Gasana had his Patriots' contract renewed.

Kenny Gasana has had his contract renewed with the Rwandan champions Patriots BC

The BAL will take place in Kigali from May 16-30 with twelve clubs from twelve African countries vying for the crown of the newly-launched competition, a partnership between FIBA and the NBA.

Both Nshobozwabyosenumukiza and Gasana are fundamental members of the Rwandan national team who will host this year's FIBA AfroBasket in August-September. 

In another move, Patriots BC named Bernard 'Ben' Oluoch as the team's head coach.

The Kenyan-born was promoted from his assistant coach role, replacing American Murray Dean, who powered Patriots to the 2020 Rwandan League title last October

Oluoch becomes the Patriots' third head coach since the start of the BAL Qualifiers back in October 2019. Kenyan Carey Francis Odhiambo was the man in charge of Patriots, who closed their BAL Qualifiers with a resounding 9-0.

Earlier in the year, the Rwandan champions signed Kenyan international Tom 'Bush' Wamukota, a seven-footer center who has rightly become of the players to watch out in the Kigali showdown.

As the Patriots's new signings process continues, the following are the players available for the BAL: Aristide Mugabe,Jean Jacques Wilson Nshobozwabyosenumukiza, Sedar Sagamba, Dieudonne Ndayisaba, Steven Havungintwari, Guibert Nijimbere, Elie Kaje, Jean Paul Ndoli, Bush Wamukota, Junior Kasongo, Joseph Bukuru, Didier Ishimwe, Sano Gasana and Leonard Hitayezu.

FIBA