Kami Kabange Explained

Kami Kabange
Position:Center
Height Ft:6
Height In:8
Number:20
Nationality:Rwanda / Congolese
Birth Date:2 July 1984
Birth Place:Likasi, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Career Start:2007
Career End:2023
Years1:2007–2011
Team1:APR
Years2:2012–2013
Team2:Espoir
Years3:2013–2016
Team3:City Oilers
Years4:2017–2023
Team4:REG
Years5:2019
Team5:ASB Mazembe
Highlights:
  • RBL champion (2008, 2009, 2013, 2017, 2021, 2022)
  • NBL Uganda champion (2013–2016)
  • NBL Uganda Playoffs MVP (2013, 2015)
  • NBL Uganda Top Scorer (2013, 2014, 2015)
  • 2× USPA Male Basketball Player of the Year (2013, 2015)

Kami Kabange (born 2 July 1984) is a Congolese-born naturalized Rwandan former basketball player. Standing at, he plays as center. He had a 12-season long career for different clubs in East Africa. Born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, he is a naturalised Rwandan citizen and represented the Rwanda national team.[1]

Early life

Born in Likasi, Kabange started playing basketball at a young age, inspired by his brothers. When he was 17, he was noticed by Lubumbashi Sport, who offered him to play in the topflight Congolese league.[1]

Professional career

After playing one season with Lubumbashi Sport, Kabange appeared two seasons for Besa Mazembe.

Kabange started his professional career in Rwanda with APR, under head coach Cliff Owuor. In his first season, he helped the team win consecutive Rwandan National League titles.

After four seasons with APR, he transferred to Espoir and helped the team win the 2012 national title.

In 2013,[2] Kabange signed with the City Oilers club of the NBL Uganda league.[3] In 2021, Kabange was on the REG squad again.[4]

In 2019, he played for ASB Mazembe from Congo in the 2020 BAL Qualifying Tournaments.[5]

Kabange represented Rwanda's national basketball team on many occasions. At the 2013 AfroBasket he played most minutes for his team and was Rwanda's top rebounder and shot blocker.[6]

In September 2023, Kabange retired at age 39.[7]

National team career

Kabange debuted for the Rwanda national team in 2009, and played with the team at AfroBasket during four tournaments, in 2009, 2011, 2013, 2017.

BAL career statistics

|-|-|style="text-align:left;"|2022|style="text-align:left;"|REG| 1 || 0 || 1.2 || –|| –|| – || 0.0 || 1.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 23 March 2018 . Ten years and still counting for Rwanda’s star centre Kabange . 30 September 2021 . The New Times Rwanda . en.
  2. http://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1319958/juruni-eyes-2013-basketball-crown Juruni eyes 2013 Basketball crown
  3. http://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1425721/ciy-oil-eases-past-phenoms City Oil eases past Phenoms
  4. Web site: Sikubwabo . Damas . Rwanda: Basketball - Reg Coach Sets Sights On League Trophy . allAfrica.com . 30 September 2021 . en . 16 September 2021.
  5. Web site: Kami Kabange - 2020 BAL Qualifiers.
  6. https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/team/p/sid/9642/tid/352/_/2013_FIBA_Africa_Championship_for_Men/accumulated-statistics.html Rwanda accumulated statistics | 2013 FIBA Africa Championship for Men
  7. Web site: Sikubwabo . Damas . 2023-09-26 . Basketball: Kami Kabange “very satisfied” as he calls time on career . 2023-09-29 . The New Times . en.