APR BBC players Ntore Habimana and Axel Olenga Mpoyo, who were suspended for one year by the Rwanda Basketball Federation (FERWABA), have disputed the decision, saying they did not refuse a national team call-up and that the matter stemmed from a misunderstanding during ongoing communication with the federation.
FERWABA announced the suspension on June 22, 2026, accusing the two players of failing to honour a call-up to the Rwanda national basketball team ahead of FIBA World Cup qualifying matches, despite their club having released them for national duty.
The federation said the decision was based on FIBA regulations and resolutions from its General Assembly governing player obligations when summoned for national team assignments.
Ntore Habimana rejected the allegations, insisting he fully participated in national team preparations and never declined the invitation.
“I never refused the call-up. I attended all training sessions I was required to join,” he said.
He said he was surprised by the timing and severity of the sanction, arguing that his long-standing contribution to the national team should have warranted further dialogue before any disciplinary action was taken.
Ntore added that communication with FERWABA was still ongoing at the time the suspension was issued.
“They gave us their expectations, I responded. It was not a refusal,” he said.
Axel Olenga Mpoyo also denied wrongdoing, saying he had formally informed FERWABA of illness, workload, and insurance-related constraints, while maintaining that he remained available for national team duty once the issues were resolved.
“I never refused. I was ready to represent my country once everything was clarified,” he said.
He added that he later attended a brief meeting with FERWABA officials focused on his health and injury concerns, after which he was told a response would follow, but no further communication came before the suspension was announced.
“That was the last communication before I learned of my suspension,” he said.
APR BBC has also challenged the decision, saying the sanction was taken too quickly and without sufficient consultation with the club.
The club maintains that both players reported for national team training on June 20, 2026, though they did not complete full sessions due to injury-related issues, which it says demonstrated their willingness to respond to the call-up after being released by their club.
