BUJUMBURA (Burundi) - Returning to the FIBA Women's AfroBasket Zone 5 Qualifiers for the first time in 12 years, could Burundi be the dark horse of the five-team competition?
While the national team has been dormant, the country's international players have continued to thrive elsewhere and seven of them are expected to lead the charge for Arsene Mfuraniza's side. The depth of the squad only adds to the excitement surrounding the team.
Burundian basketball is on the rise, with the national league attracting a huge local following. Two teams took part in last year's Women's Basketball League Africa (WBLA) qualifiers in Zanzibar.
The men's league has also produced two Road to BAL (Basketball Africa League) teams in Dynamo BBC and Urunani. Could this be replicated on the national team front?
What will Mfuraniza's charges bring to the six-day competition from 3-8 February?
Apart from an element of surprise should they live up to their potential given the players they are expected to field, it is an opportunity to gauge the impact of the investment made in the development of women's basketball.
They will also inject fresh talent and energy into an already explosive zonal qualifying event. The zone is so competitive that the 2023 edition was decided on points difference, with Kenya missing out in favour of Uganda by a single point (23/22).
"We have all been waiting for this opportunity for over a decade and it is an honour to represent our country. It won't be easy as most (if not all) of us will be playing for the first time. But we will take it one game at a time and have fun doing it. Being here is huge for women's basketball in Burundi and we hope this is the first of many consistent appearances as we work towards qualification," said Ines Nezerwa.
Despite their relative inexperience, Burundi are not to be taken lightly. They are led by 31-year-old Nezerwa, fresh from leading Rwanda Energy Group (REG) to a sixth-place finish in the Women's Basketball League Africa (WBLA) in December. She finished fourth in rebounding, averaging a double-double with 12.2 points and 10.7 rebounds.
Other talents expected in Cairo include Nsanzabangwa Nelly Sandra and Izre Santhiana, who play for Rwandan side Kepler, and Uwitone Nandy Linda, who plays for REG. The others are Irakoze Divine (United States International University, Kenya), Kanyamuneza Ines (Kampala International University, Uganda) and Uwineza Ninette (Kampala City Council Authority- Leopards, Uganda).
Sandra was one of the standout players in last year's WBLA qualifiers for Gladiators. In the seventh place match against Tanzanian champions Vijana Queens, she scored 22 points, 6 assists and 4 rebounds and had a game high 22 efficiency rating as Gladiators came from behind to beat Vijana Queens 79-65. She averaged 12.4 points in the 11-team competition.
Her teammate in Zanzibar, Elsa Ingabire Bukuru, adds to the depth of the national team squad training at the Department of Sport Stadium. She averaged 8 points and 4.7 rebounds in the WBLA qualifiers.
Both the Gladiators and Young Sisters, the second team that represented the country in Zanzibar and finished ninth, are expected to produce the majority of the national team's players, giving them a chance to get more exposure to high-level international basketball.
"Each of these players has brought talent from their respective clubs and we will try to put that together and execute as a team, it is a team sport and we have to learn to work together and give our best," she continued. "Getting the squad together has not been easy because of the financial issues. We are here now and there is no pressure. We just want to showcase the immense talent that Burundi has and I am confident that this will open up opportunities for our players to further their careers and improve the quality of our national team."
Mfuraniza's charges will also be eager to represent their country, most for the first time, and that motivation could spur them on to some solid performances, adding to the depth and rivalries in the zone.
FIBA