2023–24 Dynamo BBC season

Dynamo BBC
2023–24 season
Head coach	Olivier Ndayiragije (Road to BAL) ; Julien Chaignot (BAL & VBL))
Viva Basketball League	Runners-up ; (lost to Urunani)
BAL	Disqualified
	← 2023 2025 →

In the 2023–24 season Dynamo BBC plays internationally in the Basketball Africa League (BAL) and domestically in the Burundian Basketball Championship (Viva Basketball League for sponsorship reasons).

Dynamo debuted as the first Burundian team in BAL history, however, they were disqualified after one game as the result of political reasons.

In the national Viva Basketball League (VBL), Dynamo narrowly lost to rivals Urunani in seven games in the finals.

Overview

Following their national championship in 2023, Dynamo played in the Road to BAL for a second time in club history.^[1] Dynamo successfully qualified for the BAL following their campaign in the Road to BAL, becoming the first team from Burundi to do so.^[2]^[3]

For the BAL season, Dynamo hired Julien Chaignot as head coach.^[4] In the opening day game between Dynamo and South Africa's Cape Town Tigers, the Burundian side taped off the logo of league sponsor Visit Rwanda. Political tensions between the two border nations Burundi and Rwanda had been rising, as Burundi has accused Rwanda of supporting the RED-Tabara rebel militia in the country.^[5]^[6] Dynamo forfeited their second game against FUS Rabat on 10 March, with the BAL citing "refusing to comply with the league’s rules governing jersey and uniform requirements" as the reason why.^[7] Following Dynamo's second forfeit on 12 March, the team was automatically withdrawn from the group as per FIBA rules.^[8] Dynamo players Bryton Hobbs and Makhtar Gueye stated that the Burundian government had prohibited the team to wear the logo and ordered the club to forfeit its games if necessary.^[5]^[9]

Roster

The following was Dynamo BBC's roster in the 2024 BAL season.

Dynamo roster

Players

Coaches

Pos.	No.	Name	Ht.	Age
PG	0	Nijimbere, Guibert	1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)	29 – (1995-01-01)1 January 1995
PG	1	Hobbs, Bryton (C)	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)	32 – (1991-11-14)14 November 1991
SG	2	Deng, Dhieu	1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)	23 – (2001-08-28)28 August 2001
PF	5	Bitigirimbango, Derrick	2.00 m (6 ft 7 in)	26 – (1998-01-19)19 January 1998
G/F	7	Gueye, Makhtar	2.08 m (6 ft 10 in)	27 – (1997-01-07)7 January 1997
SG	10	Ndikuriyo, Richard	1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)	27 – (1997-05-15)15 May 1997
SG	11	Alvin, Ninziza	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)	33 – (1991-06-08)8 June 1991
SF	12	Bujeje, Romis	1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)	25 – (1998-11-25)25 November 1998
SF	14	Camara, Mohamed	2.03 m (6 ft 8 in)	19 – (2005-04-01)1 April 2005
PF	24	Karabona, Clement	2.03 m (6 ft 8 in)	23 – (2001-07-10)10 July 2001
C	28	Williams, Morakinyo	2.10 m (6 ft 11 in)	26 – (1998-08-29)29 August 1998
C	50	Otobo, Israel	2.00 m (6 ft 7 in)	20 – (2004-05-31)31 May 2004

Head coach

Julien Chaignot

Assistant coach(es)

Legend

(C) Team captain
Injured

Roster

Updated: 15 March 2024

Transactions

In

No.	Pos.	Name	Age	Moving from	Type	Ends	Date	Source
1	PG	Hameed Ali^[a]	23	Caballeros de Culiacán	Free agent	1-month
14	F	David Deng	23	Cobra Sport	Free agent	2024		^[10]
32	C	Chris Obekpa	30	ABC Fighters	Free agent	1-month		^[10]
–	F/C	Ryan Richards	32	Yamaguchi Patriots	Free agent	2024
–	PG	Dhieu Deing	22	Pazi	Free agent	2024		^[4]
–	F	Makhtar Gueye	26	Ferroviário da Beira	Free agent	2024
–	C	Morakinyo Williams	35	Pukhet Wave	Free agent	Undisclosed	January 26, 2024	^[11]
–	PG	Bryton Hobbs	32	Perth Redbacks	Free agent	Undisclosed	January 26, 2024	^[12]

Competitions

Road to BAL

First round

19 October 2023 1	KPA	63–75	Dynamo	IST Gymnasium, Dar es Salaam
16:00	Scoring by quarter: 13-17, 13-24, 16-28, 21-6
	Pts: Jordan 22 Rebs: Koranga 7 Asts: Adera 3	Report	Pts: Otobo, Revolution 18 Rebs: Otobo 18 Asts: Ali 8	Referees: Tonton Banza Kalume (DRC), Guy Sani Kollo (CMR), Adel Kahallou (ALG)

20 October 2023 2	Dynamo	62–71	Pazi	IST Gymnasium, Dar es Salaam
19:00	Scoring by quarter: 10-15, 15-20, 18-14, 19-22
	Pts: Deng 20 Rebs: Revolution 15 Asts: Ali 5	Report	Pts: Rucklin 17 Rebs: Deing 14 Asts: Deing 4	Referees: Adlen Larouci (ALG), Tonton Banza Kalume (DRC), Gnoambilé Mockey (CIV)

21 October 2023 3	Dynamo	88–59	Elan Coton	IST Gymnasium, Dar es Salaam
16:00	Scoring by quarter: 22-17, 22-18, 18-14, 26-10
	Pts: Otobo 21 Rebs: Otobo 11 Asts: Ali 6	Report	Pts: Mama, Ngaransou 14 Rebs: Ngaransou 12 Asts: Andebi, Sero 3	Referees: Adel Kahallou (ALG), Gnoambilé Mockey (CIV), Shabani Mohamed Shabani (TAN)

Elite 16

Group stage

21 November 2023	Cape Town Tigers	76–61	Dynamo	Ellis Park Arena, Johannesburg
20:00	Scoring by quarter: 17-14, 10-28, 20-8, 29-11
	Pts: Larrier 25 Rebs: Sibanyoni 13 Asts: Larrier 5	Report	Pts: Nijimbere 14 Rebs: Otobo 18 Asts: Morman 4	Referees: Tonton Banza Kalume (DRC), Haytham Ihaqaf (LBY), Diallo Mahamadou (MLI)

22 November 2023	Dynamo	71–76	NBA Academy Africa	Ellis Park Arena, Johannesburg
14:00	Scoring by quarter: 6-22, 23-22, 21-14, 21-18
	Pts: Otobo 22 Rebs: Otobo 10 Asts: Nkanira 3	Report	Pts: Maluach 23 Rebs: Maluach 18 Asts: Chomche 5	Attendance: Haytham Ihaqaf (LBY), Silver Houngbedji (BEN), Erick Otieno (KEN)

23 November 2023	Pazi	85–880(2OT)	Dynamo	Ellis Park Arena, Johannesburg
20:00	Scoring by quarter: 17-15, 20-13, 9-21, 21-18, Overtime: 10-10, 8-11
	Pts: Deing 32 Rebs: Ndikumana, Thabeet 12 Asts: Gatkuoth 5	Report	Pts: Otobo 20 Rebs: Otobo 18 Asts: Nijimbere 4	Referees: Youssouf Maiga (MLI), Mohamed Elmenshawy (EGY), Erick Otieno (KEN)

Final phase

25 November 2023 Semifinal	City Oilers	72–61	Dynamo	Ellis Park Arena, Johannesburg
14:00	Scoring by quarter: 19–5, 12–19, 22–22, 19–15
	Pts: Opong 17 Rebs: Miller Jr. 10 Asts: Miller Jr. 6		Pts: Morman 15 Rebs: Obekpa 13 Asts: Ndikuriyo 5	Referees: Arnold Moseya (RSA), Walelign Gebeto (ETH), Francisco Tando (ANG)

26 November 2023 Third place game	COSPN	78–79	Dynamo	Ellis Park Arena, Johannesburg
17:00	Scoring by quarter: 18–30, 23–17, 21–12, 16–20
	Pts: Randriamampionona 20 Rebs: Rasolomanana 8 Asts: Adewunmi 8	Report	Pts: Deng 17 Rebs: Obekpa 14 Asts: Otobo 5	Referees: Arnold Moseya (RSA), Walelign Gebeto (ETH), Mohamed Elmenshawy (EGY)

BAL

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	L	GF	GA	GD	PCT	Qualification
1	FUS Rabat	4	3	1	363	295	+68	.750	Advance to playoffs
2	Petro de Luanda	4	2	2	360	340	+20	.500
3	Cape Town Tigers (H)	4	1	3	305	346	−41	.250
4	Dynamo (D)	0	0	0	0	0	0	—	Withdrew

Source: BAL
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(D) Disqualified; (H) Hosts

Does not include the cancelled games.

9 March 2024	Cape Town Tigers	73–86	Dynamo	SunBet Arena, Pretoria
3:00 PM (7:00 PM PST)	Scoring by quarter: 15–21, 14–23, 24–22, 20–20
	Pts: Cele 26 Rebs: Sibanyoni, Preston 7 Asts: Sibanyoni 5	Boxscore	Pts: Otobo 21 Rebs: Otobo 13 Asts: Hobbs 8	Attendance: 5,749 Referees: Kevin Fahy, Wael Ibrahim Mostafa, Monicca Nassuuna

Notes

^ Hameed Ali only played in the group phase of the Road to BAL, and was not on the roster for the Elite 16.

References

^ "Kenya Moran's Ariel Okal celebrate sixth league title as Dynamo edge out holders Urunani in Burundi". Afrobasket. 2023-08-17. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
^ "Dynamo outlast COSPN, secure last BAL ticket". FIBA.basketball. 2023-11-26. Retrieved 2023-11-26.
^ "Dynamo outlast COSPN, secure last BAL ticket". FIBA.basketball. 2023-11-26. Retrieved 2023-11-26.
^ ^a ^b @dynamobasketballclub (2024-01-24). "News: @dhieudeng the south Sudanese shooting guard has arrived in Bujumbura after the coach @julienchaignot and the player @thelionkillaa are already here as our recruits for @thebal . Other new recruits are expected to arrive next week to complete our roster. Welcome @dhieudeng 💚🤍" – via Instagram.
^ ^a ^b "Burundi's Dynamo exit Basketball Africa League over jersey row". Reuters. 2024-03-12. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
^ "Burundi's Dynamo BC out of BAL over Visit Rwanda protest". ESPN.com. 2024-03-12. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
^ "Dynamo Basketball Club forfeits game against FUS Rabat Basketball". The BAL. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
^ "Basketball Africa League President Amadou Gallo Fall Statement regarding Dynamo Basketball Club". The BAL. 2024-03-12. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
^ Reporter, Times (2024-03-11). "BAL 2024: Gueye slams Burundi's interference amid Dynamo forfeit". The New Times. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
^ ^a ^b "Road to BAL: Dar es Salaam hosts Group C teams in battle for Elite 16 slot". FIBA.basketball. 2023-09-29. Retrieved 2023-09-29.
^ @dynamobasketballclub (2024-01-26). "@kinyowilliams the British big man has arrived today in Bujumbura. He is our third recruitment for the BAL so far. He plays at the center position and is here to bring his experience in basketball to the team at @thebal" – via Instagram.
^ @dynamobasketballclub (2024-01-27). "The point guard @iso.hov has arrived in Bujumbura as our fourth recruit for @thebal . Welcome 💚🤍" – via Instagram.

[10] Hameed Ali only played in the group phase of the Road to BAL, and was not on the roster for the Elite 16.

[:1-1] "Kenya Moran's Ariel Okal celebrate sixth league title as Dynamo edge out holders Urunani in Burundi". Afrobasket. 2023-08-17. Retrieved 2023-08-17.

[:0-2] "Dynamo outlast COSPN, secure last BAL ticket". FIBA.basketball. 2023-11-26. Retrieved 2023-11-26.

[:02-3] "Dynamo outlast COSPN, secure last BAL ticket". FIBA.basketball. 2023-11-26. Retrieved 2023-11-26.

[:5-4] @dynamobasketballclub (2024-01-24). "News: @dhieudeng the south Sudanese shooting guard has arrived in Bujumbura after the coach @julienchaignot and the player @thelionkillaa are already here as our recruits for @thebal . Other new recruits are expected to arrive next week to complete our roster. Welcome @dhieudeng 💚🤍" – via Instagram.

[:03-5] "Burundi's Dynamo exit Basketball Africa League over jersey row". Reuters. 2024-03-12. Retrieved 2024-03-14.

[:12-6] "Burundi's Dynamo BC out of BAL over Visit Rwanda protest". ESPN.com. 2024-03-12. Retrieved 2024-03-14.

[7] "Dynamo Basketball Club forfeits game against FUS Rabat Basketball". The BAL. Retrieved 2024-03-14.

[8] "Basketball Africa League President Amadou Gallo Fall Statement regarding Dynamo Basketball Club". The BAL. 2024-03-12. Retrieved 2024-03-14.

[9] Reporter, Times (2024-03-11). "BAL 2024: Gueye slams Burundi's interference amid Dynamo forfeit". The New Times. Retrieved 2024-03-14.

[:2-11] "Road to BAL: Dar es Salaam hosts Group C teams in battle for Elite 16 slot". FIBA.basketball. 2023-09-29. Retrieved 2023-09-29.

[12] @dynamobasketballclub (2024-01-26). "@kinyowilliams the British big man has arrived today in Bujumbura. He is our third recruitment for the BAL so far. He plays at the center position and is here to bring his experience in basketball to the team at @thebal" – via Instagram.

[13] @dynamobasketballclub (2024-01-27). "The point guard @iso.hov has arrived in Bujumbura as our fourth recruit for @thebal . Welcome 💚🤍" – via Instagram.

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v t e 2024 BAL season
Qualification Playoffs Final Rosters
Kalahari Conference	Cape Town Tigers Dynamo FUS Rabat Petro de Luanda
Nile Conference	Al Ahly Al Ahly Benghazi Bangui Sporting Club City Oilers
Sahara Conference	APR AS Douanes US Monastir Rivers Hoopers