KIGALI (Rwanda) - A FIBA Africa delegation led by Jean Michel Ramaroson and members of the Rwanda Basketball Federation (FERWABA) board met last week in Kigali to further map out plans for the second phase of the prestigious FIBA Plus Basketball Program. 

The four-day meeting from January 15-18 saw meetings with every stakeholder including the FERWABA Executive Committee officials, Ministry of Sports, National Olympic Committee, technical department, national team coaches, sponsors, club and media representatives as well as fans. 

"THE RWANDA BASKETBALL FEDERATION IS GRATEFUL TO BE AMONG THE FEW COUNTRIES ACROSS AFRICA THAT HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED FOR THIS PROJECT WHICH AIMS AT DEVELOPING THE NATIONAL FEDERATION AND OWNING THE GAME. INDEED THIS PROJECT HAS STARTED AND WILL SURELY HELP IN THE BASKETBALL DEVELOPMENT FROM THE GRASSROOTS AROUND THE WHOLE COUNTRY. "- Mugwiza

This was aimed at discussing the Strategic Planning for FERWABA that will look to implement their roadmap and the targeted development of activities including Governance, Management, Finance and Administration as well as Technical, Competitions, Marketing and Communications until 2023 closing year of the next FIBA Basketball World Cup cycle.

FERWABA president Desire Mugwiza told FIBA.basketball that, "Developing a strategy takes time and resources. It requires the time and commitment of the most highly paid and highly experienced people."

"With that said, seeing all efforts invested by FIBA to assist our federation in developing a strategy is greatly appreciated and will for sure have a big impact into the sustainable development of basketball across all the areas including professionalizing people in the basketball sector from coaches to players, referees and strengthening the clubs and national teams."

Mugwiza in deep discussion with the FIBA Experts

The FIBA experts met with each department separately to thoroughly look at their plans in depth and to iron out any challenges that might affect the implementation process. 

Former FIBA international referee Didier Shema Maboko, who is now the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Sports as well as the National Olympic Committee president Valens Munyabagisha were also part of the meeting to discuss the capital role of the Government and the Olympic movement in supporting the growth of basketball in Rwanda.

NOC Rwanda has in the past provided an Olympic Solidarity fund to FERWABA

Mugwiza emphasized that, "The Rwanda Basketball Federation is grateful to be among the few countries across Africa that have been considered for this project which aims at developing the national federation and owning the game. Indeed this project has started and will surely help in the basketball development from the grassroots around the whole country."

Meeting with the Finance Department

FERWABA is among the top five priority federations in Rwanda and enjoy massive financial support from the Government through the Ministry of Sports and have over the years grown in leaps and bounds. 

President Kagame and FIBA Africa President Anibal Manave watch BAL Qualifiers

With this goodwill, Mugwiza is confident that the knowledge attained from the FIBA Plus Basketball Program, even more success will be registered in the years to come. He said, "Having a strategy will serve as the vehicle for answering the question, "How can we better align all our resources to maximize our strategic success?"

"We have no doubt that with the highly experienced and qualified experts that we have worked with from FIBA that by developing this strategy will allow us to define the strategic direction, aligning operations, marketing, administration and all other technical know how required for moving together to achieve the federation's goals. We truly appreciate the support from FIBA and look forward to implementing the strategy as soon as possible."

Meeting with media representatives who cover basketball in Rwanda

Rwanda has made great strides in the development and growth of the game and have hosted several FIBA Africa competitions including the recent Basketball Africa League Division East Qualifiers in the capital of Kigali in front of a sold out Kigali Arena. 

Rwanda is the host nation for the Final Four and Final of the inaugural Basketball Africa League scheduled to start in March 2020 . 

FIBA