1. Introduction
Basketball is among the most preferred sports in Rwanda and has always been ranked the second most popular after football and number one of the indoor sports. This document highlights different Basketball Activities planned in 2021-2022 season as well as different partnership offers.
We dream, we build, and we strive. Embark with us on a journey towards greatness.
1.1 Who we are?
The Rwanda Basketball Federation (Ferwaba) is the governing body of basketball across Rwanda. We provide capacity building programs for players, coaches, referees, sport doctors and other key actors in the basketball community; we organize local and international competitions and create forums for the exchange of experiences and ideas.
We are basketball! The Rwanda Basketball Federation (FERWABA) is the governing body for basketball in Rwanda operating under the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) since 1974. In nearly 50 years of existence, the Federation has been providing a platform for growth of players, coaches and other key actors in the basketball industry through competitions and capacity building programs around basketball and other social initiatives.
1.2 The Goal
Professionalize Rwandan Basketball through the delivery of high standards competitions, capacity building programs and construction of basketball facilities around the country as well as positioning Rwanda as the Basketball Hub for Africa.
We aim at professionalizing the Rwandan Basketball Industry and make Rwanda become the African Sports Hub.
2.FERWABA 2021-2022 Season’s Activities
Summary of Ferwaba’ s activities for the 2021-2022 season
| Activities | Period |
| National League Division 1 (Men & Women) | January – September 2022 |
| Hero’s tournament | 27th January – 1st February |
| National League Division 2 | February – September 2022 |
| Genocide Memorial Tournament | 16th -19th June 2022 |
| Legacy Tournament | 27th – 30th October 2022 |
| Junior Basketball League | March – May 2022 |
| 3×3 competitions (Men & Women) | Once in quarter |
| All Star Game | 8th October 2022 |
| Construction of Basketball courts | Throughout the year |
| Capacity building programs | Throughout the year |
2.1 Brief on each activity
2.1.1 D1 Preseason and Regular Season
The Rwanda Basketball Division 1 is the highest league of Basketball organized in Rwanda. It has the male and female categories, with 10 teams and 6 teams respectively, competing for the National Basketball Championship every year.
For the 2021/2022 season, the preseason will start from January 28th to 1st February 2022 and the regular season will tip off on in March 2022
2.1.2 National Heroes Tournament
Every February 1st, Rwanda celebrates National Heroes who have shaped our country into a striving Nation it is today. To join the celebration, FERWABA organizes a tournament around that day, and the 2022 edition will take place from January 27th to February 1st, 2022, involving all teams playing in D1 and D2.
2.1.3 D2 Preseason and Regular Season
From next year, FERWABA is inaugurating the Division Two Basketball Men’s League. This 7 months tournament will start with the preseason in February, followed by regular season and will end in September. As of now 16 teams have confirmed their participation
2.1.4 Genocide Memorial Tournament
In the spirit of commemorating the 1994 Genocide against Tutsis in Rwanda, FERWABA hosts an annual basketball tournament to pay tribute to the Rwandan Basketball Legends who perished during the Genocide. This year’s edition will be played from June 16th to 19th 2022 by local teams and other invited teams from the neighboring countries.
2.1.5 D1 and D2 Playoffs
The end of the regular season shall be marked by the beginning of the playoffs where the best teams in both divisions and categories will compete for the championship title. They will take place during the months of August and September in 2022.
2.1.6 FERWABA ALL STAR
This event is the final sporting activity organized by FERWABA. It is a celebration and an occasion to bring together the best players and coaches in the country to play one final game to wrap the year with more entertainment. 2022 All-Star game will bring together local best players of the season, some freshly retired legends from the NBA and will be closed by a concert by one of the best artist on the continent. It will be played October 8th 2022.
2.1.7 Legacy Tournament
Organized by the United Generation for Basketball since 2018, in collaboration with FERWABA, this tournament is an occasion to remember and pay tribute to the late Mr. Aimable SHAMPIYONA and late Mr. Jean de Dieu NIZEYIMANA for their tremendous contribution to the growth of the game of basketball in Rwanda. It will take place from October 27th to 30th 2022.
2.1.8 Capacity building programs (Better not to mention these programs on the websites for as long as we have not secured contracts with them)
These are different programs and clinics organized to empower different players in the Basketball community as well as contribute to the development of the game as a whole. Among beneficiaries of those programs are Coaches, referees, statisticians, Basketball scouts and basketball young talents.
Among those programs are the following:
- the National coaching certification program:
- Youth Camp with Rico Hines Basketball:
- Coach to Coach Haddle by Patrick Mutombo (Head Coach of the Toronto 905 of the G-League): This program consists of identifying and knowledge transfer to the local coaches and youth; this strategy reflects Mutombo’s unique approach to empower other coaches and leave his legacy. This camp expects gathers 60 participants and the beneficiaries are local coaches and under 21 Players.
- The Strength and Conditioning Clinic by Mr. Keith Jones, Houston Rockets Senior Vice President of Basketball Operations and Head Athletic Trainer, and Mr. Richard Williams, New York Knicks Strength and Conditioning Coach, where Rwandan Coaches and Players aspiring to become Coaches were given insights into that field of coaching
