Espoir close in on basketball league title

These players Pascal Rurangirwa, Bienvenue Ngandu and Kami Kabange have been vital for Espoir this season.

 Espoir Basketball Club is headed for the league title after recording vital victories against Cercle Sportif de Kigali and United Generation Basketball last weekend.

Espoir beat Cercle Sportifs 71-46 on Saturday before piling more pressure on United Generation Basketball (UGB) with a 114-46 victory on Sunday.

Pascal Rurangirwa Karekezi scored 31 points, Aristide Mugabe and Kami Kabange added 29 and 23 points respectively for the title chasing Espoir at Amahoro indoor stadium court.

Record league winners APR beat the defending champions Kigali Basketball Club 58-52.

Espoir have not won the league since 2005 but head coach Jean Bahufite is adamant his side is capable of winning the title this season.

“I am confident with my team and i believe his is our year that we are going to win the league title,” said Bahufite.

Espoir leads the standings with 24 points while former champions Kigali Basketball Club and Cercle Sportif de Kigali are both tied on 20 points.

APR is in fourth place with 19 points; United Generation Basketball is fifth with 17pts; Kigali Institute of Education follows with 15pts, 30-Plus 14pts, Rusizi has 12pts, while National University of Rwanda is at the bottom with 11pts.