Mukazayire visits APR, urges team to carry national flag high in BAL

Ahead of the 2025 Basketball Africa League (BAL) Nile Conference, which features Rwanda’s representative team APR, Minister of Sports Nelly Mukazayire paid a visit to the squad during their training session at BK Arena on Friday, May 9, to offer words of encouragement and boost their morale.

The conference will tip off on May 17-25, and the army side club will compete against Libya’s Al Ahli Tripoli, South Africa’s Made by Basketball, and Kenya’s Nairobi City Thunder.

“Our message today is to tell you that we are fully supporting you, that we are all behind you. We trust in your talents, you have the willingness and commitment, and that's why you're so far here, and we trust that,” Mukazayire told the team.

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She urged them to go to the court with a winning mentality, giving their maximum effort, assuring them that not only the ministry but also the whole country will be there to support them.

“As the saying goes, the whole village is behind you, and indeed we are very much behind you. BAL has grown into becoming really recognizable globally, and as a country, we are so proud that this is an initiative that started with the vision of our President,” she said.

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Mukazayire concluded by telling APR’s squad, which is among the 12 teams featured in the 2025 BAL in general, that they aren’t just playing basketball but also carrying the national flag on their shoulders.

“So when we are playing down there as APR, as Rwandans, it's not only the game of basketball, it's also the vision we uphold. So it's not only that we're going to win as the talents, as the players in the game, but it's also to show the rest of the world that actually, that is possible,” She added.

A story by Ballerzone.