William Robeyns and Jean-Jacques Wilson Nshobozwabyosenumukiza are among the many notable absentees from the nationwide basketball workforce roster for the upcoming second window of the FIBA World Cup qualifiers.
The workforce is making ready for the video games with the purpose of enhancing on a disappointing first window, the place it didn’t register a win in a bunch that features Guinea, Tunisia, and Nigeria.
The roster additionally has 4 new faces together with former U16 captain Sean Mwesigwa. The others are: Hubert Sage Kwizera and Hilar Irankunda who characteristic within the native league, in addition to US-based Moise Semuhoza, who additionally earned his first call-up.
Mwesigwa, 18, is a rising expertise enjoying school basketball in the USA, recognized for his scoring means and two-way qualities. Kwizera, 22, is a 1.88m taking pictures guard for Patriots within the Rwanda Basketball League (RBL) and has additionally featured for the nationwide 3×3 workforce.
Irankunda performs ahead/centre for United Technology Basketball (UGB) within the RBL and is recognised for his rebounding presence, rating among the many finest within the native league.
Semuhoza, a 6'7″ Rwandan-American ahead/centre, presently performs NCAA basketball for Lesley College in Massachusetts and is famous for his dimension, versatility, and two-way impression.
Chatting with Instances Sport, head coach Yves Murenzi defined the choice adjustments, significantly the inclusion of recent gamers, saying they convey helpful qualities to the squad and are a long-term funding within the nationwide workforce.
“They’re younger, proficient athletes who’ve demonstrated robust performances and important potential. Their addition brings recent vitality, competitiveness, and athleticism to the workforce, which is able to assist elevate our general depth and depth,” he famous.
He added that integrating them early is a part of a broader improvement plan.
“By integrating them into this system now, we’re accelerating their improvement and making ready a bunch that may mature collectively and be able to compete on the highest stage, together with the street to the subsequent FIBA AfroBasket 2028,” he famous.
Talking particularly about Mwesigwa, Murenzi stated the participant earned his call-up by way of constant progress and performances throughout totally different ranges.
“In the course of the latest U18 competitions, he established himself as one of many prime gamers within the event, ending as each the main scorer and the most effective three-point shooter. These achievements demonstrated not solely his offensive expertise but additionally his means to carry out below stress,” he famous.
He additionally pointed to Mwesigwa’s progress on the Giants of Africa Competition 2025, the place he helped Rwanda win the championship, in addition to his continued improvement within the US college basketball system, which has improved his decision-making, self-discipline, and consistency.
“Based mostly on his performances, work ethic, and development, we imagine Sean has demonstrated that he’s able to compete on the senior stage. This call-up just isn’t based mostly on potential alone, however on the extent of play he has constantly proven and his means to contribute to the workforce each now and sooner or later,” he famous.
Why Robeyns, Nshobozwa didn’t make the roster
Murenzi stated the choice was based mostly on latest kind.
“As a training employees, we’ve large respect and appreciation for every little thing they’ve achieved and proceed to signify for our program,” he famous, earlier than he identified that the nationwide workforce choice relies on present efficiency, kind, and the wants of the workforce.
“This season, we’ve seen a number of younger gamers acting at a really excessive stage in the identical positions. Gamers equivalent to Sean Mwesigwa and Sage have earned consideration by way of their performances, consistency, and improvement,” he famous.
