Minister of Sports activities Nelly Mukazayire has urged younger athletes throughout Africa to embrace sports activities as a robust instrument for constructing character and shaping their id.
She made the remarks whereas addressing 34 feminine athletes on the Lycée de Kigali Gymnasium in the course of the opening of the second version of the BAL4HER camp, a week-long basketball growth initiative organised alongside the Basketball Africa League (BAL) playoffs.
Working from Could 23 to twenty-eight, the camp is a part of the BAL playoff aspect occasions happening in Kigali by Could 31. It has introduced collectively contributors aged between 18 and 28 from a number of African international locations.
The opening ceremony attracted distinguished figures from the basketball world, together with FIBA Corridor of Fame Class of 2026 inductee Clarisse Machanguana, former WNBA participant and present BAL ambassador Chiney Ogwumike, and BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall.
Mukazayire inspired the athletes to take advantage of the rising alternatives in ladies’s sports activities by growing self-discipline, management, and self-belief.
“Sport builds character. It ought to grow to be a part of your id,” she mentioned.
“Younger ladies ought to recognise that alternatives like these weren’t out there earlier than. We have already got the flexibility inside ourselves to excel, and moments like this camp usually are not solely about private development, but in addition about changing into pioneers for the subsequent era.”
The opening day featured intensive coaching periods targeted on endurance, velocity, and tactical growth underneath skilled coaches, together with former Rwanda nationwide group head coach Cheikh Sarr, who at present leads Senegal’s nationwide basketball group and is overseeing the camp.
Based on Sarr, 20 athletes will likely be chosen from the camp to take part in a showcase recreation on the ultimate day, whereas a couple of standout gamers will likely be monitored over the subsequent yr as a part of a expertise identification programme aimed toward serving to athletes safe sports activities scholarships.
“This programme began in Senegal, and our aim is to create a transparent pathway for girls to entry the identical requirements and alternatives at present out there to males in basketball,” Sarr mentioned.
Ramla Umunezero, a Rwandan level guard for REG Girls Basketball Membership, described the initiative as an vital platform for younger African gamers.
“Right here, we’re making new pals, and studying from skilled gamers from throughout Africa will assist enhance our mentality and method to the sport,” she mentioned.
