NDIZEYE IS EXCITED ABOUT BAL SEASON 2

When Patriots BC lost to Energy Group (REG) in the best-of-three Final of Rwanda’s Basketball National League in November 2021, Dieudonne Ndizeye pledged that the loss wouldn’t end his dream of featuring in the Basketball Africa League (BAL) for a second straight time.

REG’s two triumphs in as many games ensured them a place in the BAL season two, which tips off in March in Dakar, while Semi-Finalists from season one Patriots BC were left wondering what had gone wrong. However, one thing that Ndizeye knew was that he needed to move on, keep his mind open and keep an eye on the market, especially because the numbers and talent that he displayed in season one still resonate to this day.

In six BAL games, Ndizeye averaged 11.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, and finished 12-for-37 from beyond the arc.
And in the build-up to the BAL qualifiers, It didn’t take long before South Sudan’s Cobra Sport knocked on the left-handed shooter’s door. Ndizeye accepted the offer with open arms.

After losing their two games in the First Round of the BAL qualifiers in October in Dar es Salaam, Cobra Sport, who accepted a wild card for the Elite 16 Round East Division from FIBA, headed to Johannesburg as outsiders. Ndizeye not only fit in Cobra Sport’s rotation like a glove, but the 6’6” small forward also rose to the occasion to deliver what was expected from him. The Rwandan international player averaged a team-best 23.7 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists in four games.

“I always wanted to play in the BAL again. When Cobra approached me, it was like a second chance for me to return to the BAL after we lost the [Rwandan] Championship,” the 25-year-old forward recalled in an exclusive interview with the BAL website.

“I didn’t hesitate to join them and I knew that I had to give my very best to help Cobra. We started with a loss [against Ferroviario da Beira], but we reacted really well as a team.

“There was no issue with my integration in the team because we all had the same mindset. We know that playing in the BAL has become like the ultimate goal for many African players.”

Ndizeye felt he was on a mission in Johannesburg, and when Cobra Sport needed him most he was there to contribute 32 points in a 77-67 win over Kenya’s Ulinzi Warriors. Two days later, Ndizeye came up with a 20-point and 7-rebound performance to help Cobra Sport beat Burundi’s New Star 78-76. The rest is history. Those two wins reopened the BAL door for Ndizeye again. “The BAL is not only a big thing in Africa, it’s now one of the top leagues in the world,” Ndizeye stressed.

Is Ndizeye heading to the BAL season two with Cobra Sport? “It’s up to my agent, but right now I am with Cobra.”

Ndizeye went on sharing his BAL experience and noted that the tournament is demanding and season two could be even more competitive “because teams now know what to expect.

“Teams like Monastir, Zamalek, Petro – these teams give BAL another level. In the BAL, you can easily find great shooters, talented guards, they are all there. Teams need to bring their very best if they are to be successful in this league.” Asked about improvements that he might need to succeed in the next BAL season, Ndizeye replied: “I am never satisfied with my game. I feel that I can be better than I am today.”