Saturday Night in Kigali 🏀✨

Friday night started with a handball game at BK Arena with friends, but it unexpectedly turned into something more. While we were there, our friends told us about a group of Japanese expats in Kigali who get together to play different ball sports and stay connected through a group chat. Before I knew it, we were added to the group, and I heard they were planning to play basketball at Zaria Court on Saturday night.

They encouraged me to join… and I hesitated. A lot.

It’s been about 20 years since I last played basketball 😅

But my wife, being the wonderful encourager she is, told me to go for it. I’m really glad I listened.

Saturday night was SO much fun. We had a big group, so we played for about two hours, rotating teams every 10 minutes. That gave everyone time to rest, catch their breath, and laugh about how out of shape (or surprisingly not!) we were. The games were friendly but energetic, with the Japanese expat community playing against the Filipino expat community here in Kigali.

One of the highlights? Realizing my hairdresser was on the opposing team 😂

Small world.

After the games, we all headed to the sports bar at Zaria Court, grabbed dinner, and spent the rest of the evening chatting and getting to know each other. Before we knew it, it was around 11 pm.

It finally feels like we’re starting to build real connections here, making friends, getting involved, and becoming part of the local expat community in Kigali. Moments like this remind me how important it is to say yes, even when you’re hesitant.

Looking forward to many more nights like this 🙏