Rwanda’s local basketball governing body, the Rwanda Basketball Federation (FERWABA) has decided the BK Basketball National League season will resume on September 4.
The decision was made during FERWABA’s extraordinary general assembly which was held via a video conference held on Sunday, May 17.
The topflight league, which commenced in December 2019, was brought to halt on March 15 before reaching the halfway mark.
Initially, before the Covid-19 pandemic broke out and the league was suspended mid-March, the domestic basketball season was scheduled to end with the Playoff Games in September.
FERWABA president Desire Mugwiza said the decision was made after considering the state of precautionary measures in Rwanda due to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic and the directives from the country’s Ministry of Sports stating that there should be no sports events before September.
Mugwiza said after the general assembly, “We have decided to resume the season early September,” stating that the decision is subject to the government’s decision before they implement.
“The participants, 15 teams out of 20 that comprise the men’s and women’s leagues, decided that completing – rather than cancelling – the league was the best way forward,” Mugwiza added.
With the pandemic and the struggle for time, the semi-finals of the playoffs will be the best of three contest as against the best of five contest from last season. While this year’s playoff final will be the best of five unlike last season’s best of seven format.
The extraordinary general assembly also agreed that teams wishing not to resume the league with the other teams due to the coronavirus pandemic or any other exceptional circumstance will be allowed to do so without facing any penalties as the rule book of the competition and other annual competitions say.
The biggest sponsor of the Basketball National League is the Bank of Kigali with a Rwf 130 million deal a year.
Local giants Patriots are two-time reigning champions in men’s category, while APR hold the crown in women’s championship.