Basketball players, coaches and fans of Rwanda have embraced the fact that the country has recently entered into an agreement with two of the largest sports franchises in America NFL team and the Los Angeles Clippers (NBA) team as a historic move toward developing talent amongst the locals and the reputation of the country at the international sports arena.
The New Times interviewed various players of basketball, coaches, and fans who expressed their point of view especially on what Visit Rwanda-LA Clippers partnership would contribute to the development of basketball talents.
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John Bahufite, the coach of IPRC-Kigali BBC said that the collaboration was a dream realized in the basketball world in the country. "It's a very good deal!" he said. The LA Clippers has some of the most popular NBA stars on the team who include Chris Paul, James Harden, and Kawhi Leonard. They will be exemplary leaders to our youth. Training will also be provided to coaches and will help in developing our young players.
Founder and Head Coach of Swish basketball Academy, Innocent Mugisha echoed such views when she stated that the partnership is a replica of the previous football achievements that the nation of Rwanda had with the Visit Rwanda campaign.
I believe that this partnership is extremely significant to Rwandian sports and basketball in particular. We have seen PSG and Bayern football clubs collaborate with Visit Rwanda. The same will happen with basketball, we are expecting, said he. The coaches are a huge aspect of the game and I wish that we would have some local training that is done under the coaches of the LA Clippers or even Rwandese coaches coming to the U.S. in order to be professionally trained. That will also enhance our image in basketball by the experience of the BAL, he added.
A Rwandan-Eritrean coach that was recently at the NBA 2K26 Summer League in the U.S. termed the move as monumental to Rwanda and Africa. Sportswise, it is a good way of capturing the attention of the world. Jersey presence among NBA is quite potent. Millions watch it on television, the internet and social media.
It is more adhesive than pitch side boards in football which people only view a few seconds at least, she said. This, to Rwanda, she said, was not only about marketing but also taking the country on the global sports map and opening the doors to tourism, investment, and development of talent.
Although Rwanda has been collaborating with European football powerhouses such as Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, Atletiko Madrid and Bayern Munich, Atobrhan emphasized that the U.S. contract signifies a new turning point. By integrating its name into the NFL and NBA, she said, Rwanda is inserting itself into two of the most viewed and monetised sporting ecosystems on earth.
Eddie Baziga
Eddie Baziga, 19, one of the promising shooting guards, a graduate of Hoops Genesis Camps, was extremely thrilled with the deal terming it as a life-altering one to young players such as him. It is not only a deal about tourism. You know, when you watch stars like James Harden associated with Rwanda it is really personal to us young players. Direct working with professionals assists in developing professional mentality at an early stage, Baziga said.
As Baziga argued, the image of an NBA star in a jersey was a positive sign that Visit Rwanda gives hope and ambition to the entire basketball community. It makes me think that, one day, a Rwandan name would be one of those on NBA jerseys.
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