Kepler Basketball Club | |
---|---|
League | Rwanda Basketball League |
Founded | 2022 |
History | Kepler BBC (2022–present) |
Arena | Kepler Sports Court |
Capacity | 500 |
Location | Kigali, Rwanda |
Team colors | Green and White |
Main sponsor | Inyange |
CEO | Nathalie Munyampenda |
Head coach | Mandy Juruni |
Ownership | Kepler |
Kepler Basketball Club is a Rwandan professional basketball team based in Kigali that is managed by the non-profit educational institution Kepler. Their men's team plays in the Rwanda Basketball League (RBL) since the 2024 season.
The over 1,000-student large non-profit education institution Kepler started its basketball program in 2023, mixing the team with both students and professional players. [1] Nathalie Munyampenda was appointed as the club's CEO. [1] In their debut season under Rene Sabahu [2] in the men's Rwanda Basketball League Division 2, they were promoted following a second place finish in the 2023 season. [2]
They acquired all-time legendary player Aristide Mugabe for their inaugural RBL season, [3] and also signed the successful Ugandan coach Mandy Juruni, who came over from BAL club City Oilers. [4] Kepler then went on to sign Guibert Nijimbere, a Burundi national team guard, for the upcoming season as well. [5] Their first league win came on February 18, when they defeated the Kigali Titans at home. [6] Kepler finished the 2024 season in fourth place, and played in the playoffs, in which they lost in the semifinals to Patriots. [7]
The team plays at an outdoor court at the college but has started building a 1,500-seater indoor hall in 2024. [1]
Kenneth Gasana is a Rwandan professional basketball player who currently plays for Bangui Sporting Club of the Road to BAL. Born in the United States, he represents the team of Rwanda internationally.
The Rwanda Basketball League (RBL) (formerly the National Basketball League Rwanda) is the top professional basketball league in Rwanda. Its season usually runs from November to September. The winners of the NBL season qualify for the qualifiers for the Basketball Africa League (BAL).
Aristide Mugabe is a Rwandan professional basketball player and assistant coach for Kepler of the Rwanda Basketball League (RBL). He played 11 years for the Rwanda national team during his career. He is widely regarded as one of the best players in Rwandan basketball history.
Patriots Basketball Club, also known as Patriots, is a professional basketball club based in Kigali, Rwanda. Established in 2014, it plays its home games at Amahoro Indoor Stadium. The team is a four-time champion of the Rwanda Basketball League (RBL).
Mandy Lutwama Juruni is a Ugandan professional basketball coach and former player. He is current head coach of Kepler of the Rwanda Basketball League (RBL). Juruni is most known for his 10-year tenure with the City Oilers in Uganda, and is widely regarded the most decorated basketball coach in Ugandan basketball history.
Rwanda Energy Group BBC, commonly known as REG, is a Rwandan basketball club based in Kigali. It is owned and named after the company Rwanda Energy Group Limited. It plays in the Rwanda Basketball League (RBL), the highest tier of basketball in Rwanda. REG has won the national championship thrice, in 2017, 2021 and 2022.
Joe Guibert Nijimbere is a Burundian basketball player for Kepler and the Burundi national basketball team.
Armée Patriotique Rwandaise Basketball Club, commonly known simply as APR, is a Rwandan basketball club based in Kigali. Owned and funded by the Ministry of Defence of Rwanda, the team plays in the Rwanda Basketball League (RBL) and in the Basketball Africa League (BAL) for the 2024 season. Nicknamed the "Lions", the team is the most decorated team in the country, as APR has won a record 15 national championships.
Dieudonné Ndayisaba Ndizeye is a Rwandan basketball player for REG of the Rwanda Basketball League (RBL) and the Rwanda national team. He is a three-time RBL champion and a one-time league MVP winner in 2019. Ndizeye has played two seasons in the BAL as well with REG.
Jean Jacques "J. J." Wilson Nshobozwabyosenumukiza is a Rwandan basketball player who currently plays for REG on loan from APR of the Rwanda Basketball League (RBL). He is also a member of the Rwanda national basketball team.
Adonis Jovon Filer is a Rwandan-American basketball player who currently plays for APR. He also plays for the Rwanda national basketball team in International competitions.
The Rwanda Basketball League Division 2 is the second-highest men's basketball competition in Rwanda, after the Rwanda Basketball League (RBL). On 1 December 2021, the FERWABA announced the creation of the new competition. Its inaugural season began on April 1, 2022, with sixteen teams divided in three groups. As of 2024, the league has 24 teams.
The Kigali Titans are a Rwandan professional basketball team based in Kigali. The team plays in the Rwanda Basketball League Division 2, the second-highest national level.
The 2023 RBL season was the second season of the Rwanda Basketball League under its current name, while the top-level competition has been organised by the FERWABA for a longer time. The season began on 12 January 2023 with the regular season. The playoffs began on 23 August and ended on 9 September 2023.
In the 2024 season for APR played internationally in the Basketball Africa League (BAL) and domestically in the Rwanda Basketball League (RBL). The team played in the BAL following their championship in the 2023 season, that ended a 14-year title drought for APR. It was the second season under coach Maz Trakh.
United Generations Basketball, also known as UGB, is a Rwandan semi-professional basketball team based in Kigali. The team plays in the Rwanda Basketball League (RBL), the top division in the country since 1998.
William Kiah Perry is an American professional basketball player for Patriots BBC of the Rwanda Basketball League. Standing at 1.83 m, Perry plays as point guard. Alumnus of Lenoir–Rhyne University, he has played several years of professional basketball in Europe and Africa. Perry previously held the record for most points in a single BAL game, is a one-time All-BAL First Team selection and a two-time BAL Sportsmanship Award winner.
Orion Basketball Club is a Rwandan semi-professional basketball team based in Kigali. They play in the Rwanda Basketball League (RBL). Orion was founded in 2022 and started playing in the Division 2 and was immediately promoted to the top flight league.
The 2024 Rwanda Basketball Cup was the inaugural season of the Rwanda Basketball Cup, the cup competition for men's teams in Rwanda. It is organised by FERWABA, the national basketball association. The first games were played on 26 April 2024, while the playoffs began on 9 July 2024, and ended end on 9 August 2024.
The 2024 RBL season was the 3rd season of the Rwanda Basketball League under its current name, while the top-level competition has been organised by the FERWABA for a longer time. The regular season began on 9 February and ended on 23 August 2024. The playoffs began on 30 August and ended on 23 September 2024.
Playoffs berth |
Season | Tier | League | Regular season | Post-season | Cup competitions | Head coach | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Finish | Played | Wins | Losses | Win % | ||||||||
Kepler | ||||||||||||
2023 | 2 | RBL D2 | 1st (Group D) | 8 | 8 | 0 | 1.000 | Lost finals (Inspired Generation) | – | Rene Sabahu | ||
2024 | 1 | RBL | 4th | 18 | 10 | 8 | .556 | Lost semifinals (Patriots) 0–3 | Quarterfinalist (RC) | Mandy Juruni | ||
Regular season record | 26 | 18 | 8 | .692 | 0 regular season champions | |||||||
Playoffs record | 3 | 0 | 3 | .000 |