Patriots BBC

Last updated

Patriots
Kigali Patriots logo.png
Leagues Rwanda Basketball League
Founded2014
HistoryPatriots BBC
(2014–present)
ArenaAmahoro Indoor Stadium / Kigali Arena
Capacity2,500 / 10,000
Location Kigali, Rwanda
Team colorsRed, Black, Gold, White
    
Main sponsor Rwanda Development Bank
PresidentBrian Kirungi
Head coachHenry Mwinuka
Championships4 Rwandan Leagues

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). [1]

Contents

In the 2021 season, the Patriots played in the Basketball Africa League (BAL). The club gained worldwide attention when American star rapper J. Cole signed with the team to play in the BAL.

History

The club Patriots BBC was founded in 2014 by a group of top corporate executives from diverse sectors of the economy. [2] In the Patriots' debut season, they immediately reached the playoff finals, but lost to Espoir 1–3. [3] Two years later, the Patriots won their first national championship.

On 21 September 2019, the Patriots won their fourth league title after defeating REG BBC in Game 7 of the finals, in a sold out Kigali Arena. [4] On 26 October, head coach Henry Mwinuka, who won three league championships with Patriots, parted ways with the club to join REG. [5] On 6 November, assistant coach Carey Odhiambo was promoted to become head coach. [6] In April 2021, ahead of the first-ever BAL season, the team signed American Alan Major as new head coach. [7] In April 2021, five days before the release of his album, The Off-Season , American rapper J. Cole signed with the Patriots. [8]

The Patriots played their first BAL game on 16 May 2021 at home in Kigali, beating Nigerian side Rivers Hoopers 83–60. [9] Eventually, the team finished in an impressive fourth place of the tournament.

Sponsorships

In 2024, Patriots BBC signed a five-year sponsorship contract with the Rwanda Development Bank (RDB). [10]

Players

Current roster

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationality not displayed.

Patriots BBC roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHt.Age
PG 2 Flag of Rwanda.svg Mugabe, Aristide  (C)1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)36 – (1988-02-11)11 February 1988
PG 5 Flag of Rwanda.svg Sagamba, Sedard 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)34 – (1990-01-01)1 January 1990
PG 10 Flag of Rwanda.svg Sano, Gasana 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)24 – (1999-09-04)4 September 1999
PG 11 Flag of Rwanda.svg Nshobozwa, Wilson 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)25 – (1998-06-26)26 June 1998
SG 12 Flag of Rwanda.svg Gasana, Kenny 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)39 – (1984-11-09)9 November 1984
SG 22 Flag of Rwanda.svg Ndizeye, Dieudonné 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)27 – (1996-10-14)14 October 1996
SG 23 Flag of Rwanda.svg Hagumintwari, Steve 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)30 – (1993-10-01)1 October 1993
C 24 Flag of Rwanda.svg Ndoli, Jean-Paul 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in)29 – (1995-04-30)30 April 1995
PG 90 Flag of Burundi.svg Nijimbere, Guibert  (I)1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)27 – (1996-12-26)26 December 1996
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
  • Flag of Kenya.svg Bernard Oluoch
  • Flag of Burundi.svg Olivier Ndayiragije
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (IN) Inactive
  • (I) Import player
  • Cruz Roja.svg Injured
Updated: November 9, 2021

Retired numbers

Patriots BBC retired numbers
N°PlayerPositionTenureCeremony date
88 Aristide Mugabe SG 2015–20232 March 2024 [11]


Past rosters

Notable players

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationality not displayed.

Criteria

To appear in this section a player must have either:

  • Set a club record or won an individual award while at the club
  • Played at least one official international match for their national team at any time
  • Played at least one official NBA match at any time.

Honours

National Basketball League

BAL

Season by season

SeasonTierLeaguePosition Heroes Cup African competitions
2014–151 NBL Rwanda 2nd
2015–161st
2016–172nd
2017–181st
2018–191stRunner-up
2019–201st
2020–212ndCancelled BAL 4th
2021–22 RBL 2ndNot held
2023 4th

Head coaches

CoachFromToHonours
Flag of Tanzania.svg Henry MwinukaDecember 2016October 20194x NBL champion
Flag of Kenya.svg Carey Odhiambo [6] November 2019February 2020
Flag of the United States.svg Dean Murray February 2020March 20211x NBL champion
Flag of Kenya.svg Bernard OluochMarch 2021April 2021
Flag of the United States.svg Alan Major April 2021May 2021
Flag of Kenya.svg Ogolla BensonMay 2021December 2022
Flag of Tanzania.svg Henry MwinukaJanuary 2023present

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References

  1. ↑ Rwanda: Basketball - Patriots, Reg Clash in Pre-Season Final Richard Bishumba, AllAfrica.com. 25 November 2016, accessed 11 April 2017.
  2. ↑ "Basketball Africa League - BAL". www.thebal.com. Archived from the original on 26 April 2021.
  3. ↑ Bishumba, Richard (10 August 2015). "Espoir retain Hoops Play-offs title". The New Times. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  4. ↑ "Pictorial: How Patriots Were Crowned Champions of BK Basketball League". 22 September 2019. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  5. ↑ Sikubwabo, Damas (26 October 2019). "Mwinuka steps down as Patriots head coach". The New Times . Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  6. 1 2 "Ikipe ya Patriots BBC yabonye abatoza bashya #Rwanda". Kigali Today. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  7. ↑ "Basketball: Patriots sign new American coach Alan Major". The New Times Rwanda. 24 April 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  8. ↑ "J. Cole makes pro hoops debut in Africa League". ESPN.com. 16 May 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  9. ↑ "Basketball Africa League - BAL". www.thebal.com. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  10. ↑ Sikubwabo, Damas (28 May 2024). "PHOTOS: Patriots ink 5-year sponsorship deal with BRD". The New Times. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  11. ↑ Sikubwabo, Damas (2 March 2024). "Patriots retire former captain Mugabe's jersey". The New Times. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
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