Jean Jacques Boissy Archives

Boissy wants to give Urunani fans joy in Road To BAL

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).

**Jean Jacques Boissy says it’s impressive how fans love basketball in Burundi. Pictures: Urunani**

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.

Pabi Gueye and Jean Jacques Boissy — **Jean Jacques Boissy says Pabi Gueye has what it takes to lead Urunani.**

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.

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AS Douanes to dance to their own beat at BAL Seaon 4

Boissy’s star on the rise in African basketball

Douanes in good shape ahead of Beira battle

AT 15 years old, Senegalese player Jean Jacques Boissy realised he could reach great heights in basketball, and now at 23, his career is skyrocketing. sHe has also had the opportunity to play in some of the game’s biggest stages.

From the time his father introduced him to the game, Boissy has seen his star rise in African basketball. The AS Douanes player, who spoke to The Big Tip Off during the week, is in Kigali, Rwanda for his club AS Douanes BAL playoff campaign. Before speaking on the Basketball Africa League (BAL), the floor general talked about where it all began. He also reflected on the steps he took to get to where is today.

“My dad introduced me to the game. He used to take me to the courts with him when I was a kid. He continues to be my greatest inspiration and I am grateful that he introduced me to basketball,” said Boissy, who spoke glowingly of his father. “I first started out as footballer, but at 15 locked into basketball. It has become a passion for me and a safe space. I am addicted to it. And when I am not playing, something is not right within.”

**Jean Jacques Boissy says it was a good decision to join AS Douanes. Pictures: Getty Images**

He gathered experience playing for his country, Senegal, at the 2018 FIBA Under-18 African Championships (Bamako, Mali) and the 2019 FIBA Under-19 World Cup (Crete, Greece).

Boissy also represented the West African nation at the 2021 FIBA AfroBasket (Rwanda). He was recently part of the Lions of Teranga’s marathon journey of attempting to qualify for this year’s FIBA World Cup (Philippines, Japan and Indonesia), which ended in February.

While it was disappointing for Senegal not to qualify for the World Cup, Boissy says the experience of playing for the national team helped him prepare for the BAL.

“Playing for our junior national team taught me how to handle pressure at an early age because I played against top countries and a lot of international prospects within my age group at the time,” said the 6ft0 (1.83m) player. “About the World Cup qualifiers … Yeah, it was disappointing not to qualify. But there were some positives to take from the experience. I grew as a person. I believe I am a better teammate. The experience helped improved my game. And with these new skills, I want to contribute to my team’s campaign at the BAL.”

Before joining AS Douanes, Boissy had a stint in the Spanish LEB Silver playing for Cornella. He believes signing for AS Douanes for the BAL was a great move that can also open new doors for him.

“I think a made the best decision by joining AS Douanes for this season. I had one thing in mind when I came back from Spain: to improve my game and to get exposure. During the local championship, I proved I could be an asset to the team, and I want to win with them,” said Boissy an MVP of the Coupe St Michel.

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In March, Douanes, who enjoyed home support in the Sahara Conference of the BAL and finished with a 3-2 record and were second in their group. Boissy, who improved with every game, was a vital cog in helping his club secure their passage to Kigali.

He shared his thoughts about playing at home in Dakar: “This is my first BAL competition. It has been one of my dreams to play on this stage and the dream has now come true. Playing in my country, in front of thousands of fans, including my family was not easy in the beginning. But it was amazing to experience them watching me do what I love. I will forever be thankful to them for their support,” said the former NBA Academy prospect.

The star player served up electrifying performances for his club and fans at the Dakar Arena during the group stages. He scored 13 points, had four assists and four rebounds in a 78-54 win over Stade Malien. Against Nigeria’s Kwara Falcons, Boissy scored 22 points and again had four rebounds and four assists.

**Jean Jacques Boissy wants to win it all with AS Douanes.**

Another shining moment for him was his double-double (15 points and 11 rebounds) and seven assists in a 76-60 win over BAL season champions US Monastir. In that final group game against the Tunisians, only victory sufficed.

“That was a challenging game, a do-or-die battle. In the end, we won, and it was spectacular for us. We also did not expect the fans to fill the arena the way they did that night. It was a beautiful moment and made that victory extra special,” said Boissy.

The Douanes point guard and his teammates take on Mozambican club Ferroviario da Beira in the playoffs on Sunday at the Kigali Arena. Boissy says this is a challenge they have prepared themselves for.

“The energy in the team is good. We know what we have come here to do. We want to win the BAL season three. But we have a game against Beira, and they are good team. So, we have to win that one as a part of trying to reach our goal,” concluded Boissy.

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