JEAN Jacques Boissy said when the opportunity to further his playing career in Burundi’s VBL came, he did not have to think twice. He saw the move as a chance to grow his game. But he did more than hone his skill set, he surpassed expectations on the court – Boissy played a pivotal role in Urunani Basketball Club’s championship run.
The mercurial point guard wasted no time endearing himself to the club’s fans. When Boissy stepped on the outdoor Terrain Department concrete turf in Bujumbura, he was a show-stopper. He lit up the skies with star performances, which led giants Urunani Basketball Club to a 17 VBL title.
Boissy, the VBL leading scorer with 405 points in 21 games, capped off the marvellous season by scooping the MVP title. So impressive were his performances during the season such that the Sisi Wenyewe re-signed Boissy for their preliminary Road To BAL campaign in Tanzania (16-20 October).
His decision to not take time off the game opened his eyes to a different culture. Boissy says how fans showed up for basketball in the East African nation is impressive.
“When I signed for Urunani, it was during the summer… Players either rest their bodies or take time to work on their game,” said the Senegal floor general. “When the opportunity came to help a new team reach their goals, I did not hesitate. It gave me time to work on my game and get better.
“I was also surprised at how much fans love for the game. It’s either you are an Urunani or a Dynamo fan here. They really love the game. I was also impressed with the level of competition.”
The 23-year-old reflected on the team and individual success he achieved. He expressed his gratitude and felt he fulfilled his obligation to Urunani. He was also equally chuffed with his MVP award.
“I feel great and I am also grateful for everything I achieved with them. I reached every expectation they had of me when I joined,” said Boissy. “The individual achievement is just a little spark for all the hard work I put in behind the scenes.”
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Urunani will expect more from their star point guard in the Road To BAL in Kibaha, which is almost an hour from the Tanzania capital, Dar Es Salaam. Boissy says he wants to repay Urunani’s faith in him by leading them to the BAL. Should they achieve that feat, they will become the second club after Dynamo to qualify for the NBA-backed competition.
“I reached one goal with them. So I signed again because there is another goal I want to achieve with them. I want to help give Urunani joy – the fans deserve it for the way they love the game,” said Boissy.
He may be young, but Boissy has experience beyond his years, having led Senegal club AS Douanes to the final of BAL Season 3 last year. His feats that season earned him All-BAL First Team and All-BAL Defensive First Team honours.
So there is no doubt Urunani have a gem in Boissy, who reflected on his performances in last season’s BAL competition.
“I feel it was God rewarding me for my hard work. It was a confidence boost knowing how far I could reach. So I am going to keep trying till I get the BAL trophy,” said Boissy.
“It was a really good experience making the BAL final in my first year. When I came to the scene, I had a lot of work to do – I took time to learn from the best players whether they were teammates or not.”
Boissy looks forward to working with new coach and compatriot Pabi Gueye, who led Douanes to the BAL final and won coach of the year for his exploits.
The star point guard describes Gueye, who took over from VBL winning coach Elvis Hakizimana, as “calm” and as one who has high expectations of the teams he coaches.
“Coach Pabi is a smart coach. He is calm. He is the type of coach who will keep players accountable, and he can get the best out of them as well,” said Boissy.
With an experienced player in Boissy and a task-master coach in Gueye, Urunani looks primed for success in the preliminary qualifiers of the Road To BAL. What could stand in the way of their success is themselves.
