Rwanda, Basketball Africa League ink multi-year deal to play games in Kigali

KIGALI, Rwanda, June 19 (Xinhua)

The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and the Basketball Africa League (BAL) have extended their partnership with a multi-year agreement, officials announced Monday.

Under this agreement, the BAL will persist in hosting games at the BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda's capital, each season.

Additionally, the BK Arena is set to host the BAL Playoffs and Finals in 2024, 2026, and 2028.

"We're excited to extend our collaboration with the Basketball Africa League. We've seen tremendous success and a return on investment over the past three years and look forward to accomplishing more together," stated Clare Akamanzi, CEO of the RDB, during the press conference announcing the partnership deal in Kigali.

Akamanzi also mentioned that the BAL has proven to be a great unifier, and Rwanda remains committed to showcasing the best it has to offer in terms of tourism, investment opportunities, talent development, 'Made in Rwanda' products, and much more to the world.

"With the great memories from the last season of the BAL finals still fresh in our minds, we are truly excited to discover what the next five years have in store for us. With the BAL and other major events, Rwanda is the home for sport in Africa," Akamanzi said at the press conference.

According to her, the BAL and RDB will further collaborate on youth development and social impact programs, expanding their joint initiatives.

"Coming out of our most competitive and compelling season yet, we're excited to renew our partnership with RDB that will bring BAL games as well as youth development and social impact programs to Rwanda for years to come," said Amadou Gallo Fall, the president of BAL in the statement.

Fall acknowledged the integral role of the Rwanda Development Board as a Foundational Partner in the launch and continued growth of the Basketball Africa League.

"We will ensure that this partnership strengthens the core of our sports industry, from talent development programs to capacity strengthening initiatives to further job creation opportunities for Rwandans," stated Aurore Mimosa Munyangaju, Rwandan Minister of Sports, at the press conference.

Yvonne Makolo, the CEO of RwandAir, expressed pride in their partnership with the Basketball Africa League and commended the Rwanda Development Board for their efforts in bringing world-class basketball to Rwanda.

"We are also focused on our goal of delivering world-class customer service as we bring people together through our extensive route network, and we look forward to flying fans and players over the coming years," she added.