{"id":20595,"date":"2022-06-24T16:35:31","date_gmt":"2022-06-24T16:35:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/all-news\/world-cup-qualifiers-habimana-looks-to-build-off-bal-rookie-season"},"modified":"2022-06-24T17:11:46","modified_gmt":"2022-06-24T17:11:46","slug":"world-cup-qualifiers-habimana-looks-to-build-off-bal-rookie-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/sport\/world-cup-qualifiers-habimana-looks-to-build-off-bal-rookie-season","title":{"rendered":"World Cup qualifiers: Habimana looks to build off BAL rookie season"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Rwanda. <\/strong><\/span>An indicator of the growing passion for the sport in Rwanda, and across the continent, is BK Arena. It has become \u201cthe hub for professional sports events in Africa\u201d according to Ntore Habimana, whose current team, Rwandan Energy Group (REG), calls the facility home.<\/p>\n

Last season was Habimana\u2019s first as a professional, though not his first taste of high-level basketball since graduating. The Mississauga, Ontario, native was invited last year to play for the Rwandan national team, representing his father\u2019s country of origin.<\/p>\n

It was Habimana\u2019s performance with the national team that put him on REG\u2019s radar. Entry into the BAL is awarded to teams who win their domestic leagues. Because there is a significant step up in competition to the BAL, teams round out their rosters with new players.<\/p>\n

Ntore Habimana made his debut international for Rwanda last year. He is seen here in action against Cameroon earlier this year in Senegal. Photo: FIBA.<\/b><\/p>\n

For the Rwandan champions, Habimana was one of five recruits heading into the second BAL season. \u201cPlaying on the national team, they saw my skills and ability.\u201d<\/p>\n

While Habimana may not have played heavy minutes with REG, he says playing in the BAL was invaluable to his development as a basketball player.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s good to be around players that have been playing professional ball for five-plus years … just as a learning experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

Part of that learning experience has been adapting to a different style of play.<\/p>\n

\u201cOverall, playing in Africa is more physical,\u201d said Habimana. \u201cI always try to hone my game the way the game\u2019s being officiated or the way it\u2019s going. As a basketball player, you\u2019re kind of used to having to adjust.\u201d<\/p>\n

The adjustment Habimana has had to make is rather significant.<\/p>\n

Habimana lined up primarily as a power forward for the Golden Hawks in Canada, where almost every team runs a small-ball lineup, the 6\u20195\u201d baller would be somewhat out of place in the BAL.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlaying pro, I\u2019m kind of undersized as a power forward, so I\u2019m more of a point guard now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fitting, given that Habimana has always been an exceptional playmaker. He led the Golden Hawks in assists in his final season, averaging 3.3 per game in 2018-19. Head Coach and Manager of Basketball Operations Justin Serresse has even previously described him as a \u201cpoint forward\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a point guard playing the four.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve always thought of myself as a point guard,\u201d said Habimana, \u201cnow that I am one, I just have to be confident in my role and keep going.\u201d<\/p>\n

Though REG claimed the top seed in the Sahara conference during the BAL regular season, they were eliminated in the quarterfinals by Cameroonian club FAP Yaound\u00e9 on May 21.<\/p>\n

Now, Habimana\u2019s focus is turned to the upcoming third window of the 2023 FIBA Word Cup Africa qualifiers.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s going to be my fourth time playing with the national team, so I\u2019m kind of getting used to it now,\u201d said Habimana, adding that \u201cIt\u2019s not every day that you\u2019re able to represent a whole country.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou see people on the street, and they know who you are, thank you for representing them properly. When other people look up to you, even the kids … it\u2019s just a great honour.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rwanda currently sits last in their pool with a 0-3 record. Despite this, \u201cwe feel pretty confident going into this window,\u201d said Habimana.<\/p>\n

Three of four teams from each pool advance to the next round, so Rwanda will have to win two games to stay in the competition. What\u2019s more, Habimana and the rest of the team will be in front of home fans at BK Arena.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like getting two wins should be, not easy, but doable,\u201d said Habimana. \u201cThere\u2019s a huge fan base out here for basketball in general. A lot of the kids love basketball, so they\u2019ll come out and support.\u201d<\/p>\n

After spending this week in Egypt for a few warm-up games, the national team will return home to face South Sudan on July 1, then play Cameroon and Tunisia the next two days.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know they\u2019re going to pack the arena, so having that fan support is going to be amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n

For More News And Analysis About Rwanda<\/a> Follow Africa-Press<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Rwanda. An indicator of the growing passion for the sport in Rwanda, and across the continent, is BK Arena. It has become \u201cthe hub for professional sports events in Africa\u201d according to Ntore Habimana, whose current team, Rwandan Energy Group (REG), calls the facility home. Last season was Habimana\u2019s first as a professional, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":20594,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24,28,18],"tags":[760,763,758],"class_list":["post-20595","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-news","category-homepage-english","category-sport","tag-africa-press","tag-africa-press-rwanda","tag-rwanda"],"yoast_head":"\nWorld Cup qualifiers: Habimana looks to build off BAL rookie season - Rwanda<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"An indicator of the growing passion for the sport in Rwanda, and across the continent, is BK Arena. 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