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Explore our network of trails that lead through a variety of woodland habitats and observe the diverse flora that call this area home.
EN FRANCAIS:
Burundian club Dynamo has withdrawn from the Basketball Africa League (BAL) after refusing to wear jerseys featuring the ‘Visit Rwanda’ logo. The team initially covered the logo in their opening game in the Kalahari Conference in Pretoria but subsequently forfeited their next two matches.
The protest appears to be linked to political tensions between Burundi and Rwanda. In January, Burundi closed its borders with Rwanda, accusing its neighbor of funding rebel attacks. Burundi’s President Evariste Ndayishimiye accused Rwanda’s government, led by Paul Kagame, of backing the Red Tabara rebel group after a militia attack killed 20 people in December. President Kagame denies the charge, but Burundi’s government has labeled him a “bad neighbor.”
BAL president Amadou Gallo Fall stated that the club’s refusal to comply with the league’s rules regarding jersey and uniform requirements led to their withdrawal. Dynamo had taped over the ‘Visit Rwanda’ logo during their victory against Cape Town Tigers but then forfeited matches against FUS Rabat and Petro de Luanda.
Dynamo guard Bryton Hobbs claimed on social media that the directive to cover the logo came from Burundi’s government. He stated, “The government told our club president Joe Dassin that we can’t play, so they told the BAL that we have to forfeit our game because we blocked out the ‘Visit Rwanda’ thing.”
The Burundi basketball federation has not yet commented on the situation. Dynamo, based in Bujumbura, was participating in the BAL for the first time and was scheduled to play a total of six games in the Kalahari Conference.
Gallo Fall described the situation leading to Dynamo’s withdrawal as “very unfortunate” and noted that the club had also refused to comply with other BAL rules and requirements. Under FIBA (International Basketball Federation) rules, two forfeitures in the same tournament result in the club’s automatic withdrawal.
The Visit Rwanda logo is on the front of all Basketball Africa League jerseys.
