KIGALI - Moise Mutokambali has bounced back as head coach of the Rwanda senior women's team following the victory of the junior girls at the just concluded ANOCA Zone 5 Youth Games in the southern district of Huye in Rwanda.

His incredible work with The Hoops, a youthful club with its foundation in giving an opportunity to teenage girls that is currently dominating the topflight women's league in Rwanda, has earned him more credibility in understanding women's basketball. 

Mutokambali, who was at the helm of the men's senior side at the FIBA AfroBasket 2017 in Tunisia, was replaced with Serbian Vladimir Bosnjak midway through the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qualifiers 2019 but his return speaks volumes about his expertise.

His experience over the years coaching at the highest level in Africa has earned him a host of bragging rights but his new objective will be to guide Rwanda back to the FIBA Women's AfroBasket for the first time since 2013. 

 
Meanwhile, Mutokambali is fresh from leading Rwanda to gold in the junior girls category in the 3x3 basketball competition while leading the boys to silver .  

Rwanda saw off Egypt 19-11 to take pole position at the inaugural regional competition that attracted six teams in the girls category including Burundi, Egypt, the Olympic Refugee Team, hosts Rwanda, South Sudan and Uganda. 

Moise Mutokambali's outfit achieved this feat with a 7-0 win ratio after seeing off neighbours Burundi 21-5 in their opener before making light work of the Olympic Refugee Team 21-3.  

 South Sudan tried to put up a bit of resistance but Rwanda was too strong for them winning 17-8 before defeating Uganda 14-8 and the emphatic victory against Egypt 16-5 to finish the round-robin pool stages unbeaten.

Against South Sudan in the Semi-Finals, Rwanda won 16-5 while Egypt beat Uganda 8-4 in a highly contested game to set up an exciting final. Rwanda remained unbeaten to edge Egypt 19-11 and win gold deservedly so after dominating the tournament. 

Uganda edged South Sudan to finish third 13-12 and settle for bronze. 

Mutokambali told FIBA.basketball that, "This victory means so much for Rwanda. To beat Egypt in the final is not something ordinary and for that, I salute the players."

"This means that now we have a good foundation to even develop 3x3 basketball. If you look at our neighbours especially Uganda, they have made big steps and are now ranked first in Africa. We have to also invest more to make sure that we make it to the top."

Meanwhile, Egypt earned their revenge over hosts Rwanda 16-12 to win gold in the men's junior final to emerge winners. 

Rwanda topped Pool A with four wins out of four including a 16-15 win over Egypt before defeating Uganda 16-9 in the first semifinal. 

Tanzania finished on top of Pool B with three wins out of three with victories over Sudan 16-2, Tanzania 16-11 and a walkover Burundi to secure a place in the last four. However, Egypt made light of Tanzania 21-2 in the second semifinal to set up a date with Rwanda. 

Egypt came out stronger this time edging the hosts 16-12 to win gold while Uganda defeated Tanzania 17-8 to settle for bronze.  

FIBA