/ By RUGIGANA Jean Claude / BASKETBALL • CYCLING • News • VOLLEBALL/ 0 Comments

25 Sports Journalists completed a 2–day training session about the rules of the games (Basketball, Cycling and Volleyball).

The Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee in partnership with the Basketball, Cycling and Volleyball Federations hosted a training session for Rwandan Sports Journalists about the Rules of the Games.

The 2-day workshop which focused on Basketball, Cycling and Volleyball Rules was sponsored by the Olympic Solidarity and took place from the 28th to the 29th of October 2020 at Olympic Hotel – Kigali.

Group photo of some of participants after closing ceremony

The sessions were organized as follows:

Day 01 of 28 October:

  • Session 01: Cycling Rules by the Cycling Federation National Technical Director Mr. Murenzi Emmanuel and the Commissaire Mr. Ntiyamira Jean Sauveur.
  • Session 02: 2020 Official Basketball Rules by the person in charge of development at the @FERWABA and National Coach Mr. MUTOKAMBALI Moise and the Vice President of National Basketball Referee Association Mr. Gilbert BIRORI.
The National Technical Director of Rwanda Cycling Federation Mr. Emmanuel Murenzi presenting the Cycling Rules to the participants.

Day 02 of 29 October:

  • Session 01: Beach Volleyball Rules by the International Beach Volleyball Referee Mr. NTANTETERI Védaste.

  • Session 02: Volleyball Rules by the International Volleyball Referee Mr. NDAYISABA Alphonse.
The International Volleyball Referee Mr. NDAYISABA Alphonse.

On behalf of the RNOSC Media and Communication Commission Peter Kamasa who is also a sports journalist at the The New Times thanked the RNOSC for the continued support towards a professional career as this is the second training in 2020.

“I would like to thank the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee for the continued support as this is the 2nd training in this year and I believe that these opportunities will improve our career standard. I also encourage my fellow sports journalists to put in action what we are learning.”  – The RNOSC Media and Communication Commission member Peter Kamasa.

The RNOSC Media and Communication Commission member and the New Times Journalist Mr. Peter Kamasa.

The RNOSC Secretary General Alexis SHARANGABO OLY who was the guest of honor at the opening ceremony, he said in his remarks:

 “Allow me to praise the Olympic Solidarity for always backing us in our activities and the RNOSC will continue providing the capacity building courses to our stakeholders as possible as we can.”

“Our solid partnership will surely accelerate the development of both sides (Rwanda Sport Movement and Media Sector).” Alexis added.

The RNOSC Secretary General Alexis SHARANGABO OLY speaking at the opening ceremony.

Speaking on behalf of participants, the founder of Half Time media house Saddam Mihigo:

“We need workshops like these at least once or twice a year to be updated about the Rules of the Games as they are changing with time and the skills gained during these intensive sessions will enable us to be a reliable source of Rwandan sports news.”

Saddam MIHIGO, the Founder and Sports Journalist of Half Time.

One of the trainers, the International Volleyball Referee Mr. Alphonse NDAYISABA has said that to put in action what they learnt that’s what will make Rwandan sport popular and developed.

The RNOSC President Amb. Valens MUNYABAGISHA in his closing remarks: “I would like to say thank you to  everyone who attended this training session and I am delighted to inform you that the RNOSC has so far trained 70% of women who work in Rwandan media sector. Sports Journalists have the power to build or destroy our sports industry, this is why to learn the Rules of the Games is very important for them.”

The RNOSC President Amb. Valens Munyabagisha giving his closing remarks.

 25 Rwandan Sports Journalists who dedicated their time for these 2 days have been given certificates of completion.

Some photos of the ceremony:

Kamukama Annet, Sports Journalist at Radio/TV10.
Ukurikiyimfura Eric Tony, Sports Journalist at www.igihe.com
Bugingo Fidèle, Sports Journalist at Imvaho Nshya.
Iradukunda Yvonne, Sports Journalist at B&B FM-Umwezi.

List of participants: Ndayisaba Léonidas (Flash FM), SIKUBWABO Damas (The Newtimes), Bugingo Fidèle (Imvaho Nshya), Iraguha Edmond (Salus Radio), Ukurikiyimfura Eric Tony (IGIHE), Hitimana Jean Claude (Royal FM), Nsengiyumva Abubakar Sadiki (B&B FM-Umwezi), Iradukunda Yvonne (B&B FM-Umwezi), Uwihanganye Hardi (Funclub), Uwase Antoinette Bora (Funclub), Kanyamahanga Jean Claude (City Radio), Kwizera Jean Claude (RBA), Nyaminani Isabelle (RBA), Mihigo Saddam (Halftime), Ndabateze Jean Bosco (Umucyo Radio), Kuradusenge Isaac (Kigali Today), Mukeshimana Assoumpta (Radio/TV1), Keppra Levetiracetam, Bahizi Craish (The New Times), Tumukunde Joselyne (Authentic Radio/TV), Nkomeje Guillaume (Kigalilive), Kamukama Annet (Radio/TV10), Sifakwamungu Anicet (Izuba Radio/TV), Uwingabiye Aimable (Life Radio) and Niyonsenga Aimé Augustin (Huguka Radio).

                                            ###

Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee continues to empower and strengthen capacity-Skills for both elite sports and Sports for All as well as to uplift sports disciplines which are lagging behind by training the sports administrators.

/ By RUGIGANA Jean Claude / CYCLING • News/ 0 Comments

Tour du Rwanda 2018: Timothy Rugg wins Stage 4 as Mugisha retains yellow jersey.

American rider Timothy Rugg staged a stunning solo performance on Wednesday to win Stage 4 of the ongoing 2018 Tour du Rwanda.

timothy-ruggs (1)

Tour du Rwanda 2018:

Thursday

Stage five: Karongi-Rubavu (95.1km)

Wednesday

Stage four: Musanze-Karongi (135.8km)

Top five

1. Timothy Rugg (Team Embrace the World) 03h31’25”

2. Samuel Hakiruwizeye (Team Rwanda) 03h33’35”

3. Didier Munyaneza (Team Rwanda) 03h33’49”

4. David Lozano (Team Novo Nordisk) 03h33’49”

5. Jean Claude Uwizeye (POC Cote de Lumière) 03h33’53”

General classification, top five

1. Samuel Mugisha (Team Rwanda) 14h07’53”

2. Jean Claude Uwizeye (POC Cote de Lumière) 14h08’14”

3. Mulu Hailemicheal (Ethiopia) 14h08’14”

4. David Lozano (Team Novo Nordisk) 14h09’44”

5. Valens Ndayisenga (POC Cote de Lumière) 14h10’06”

American rider Timothy Rugg staged a stunning solo performance to win stage four (Musanze to Karongi) of the 2018 Tour du Rwanda.

The 32-year old all-round rider bossed the whole stage from the start and comfortably claimed the 135.8 kilometer distance in 3 hours, 31 minutes and 25 seconds.

This is the rider’s second stage win at Tour du Rwanda following his first stage victory in 2016, the same year that he scooped a prologue (Individual Time Trial) win of the race.

Rugg who is riding for German side Team Embrace the World, was followed by Team Rwanda’s duo of Samuel Hakiruwizeye (3:33:35) and Didier Munyaneza (3:33:49) in second and third place, respectively.

Italy-based Rwanda international Samuel Mugisha, 20, finished in eighth position, two minutes and twenty eight seconds adrift of the stage winner but still retained the yellow jersey.

Benjamin Teylaz Favre of Team Haute-Savoie Rhone-Alpes of France set the pace when he launched the first solo breakaway after just 7.8 kilometers, opening a 12 seconds gap to the peloton before he was joined by Joseph Kamau of Kenya Riders Safaricom at 11 kilometers where they led the bunch by 18 seconds.

As riders approached the first intermediate sprint, which was after 20.3 kilometers, Bai-Sicasal-Petro de Luanda’s Bruno Araujo accelerated to beat Andrew Kamutai of Kenya Riders Safaricom to the day’s first prize point.  

Samuel Mugisha stayed with the yellow jersey after stage four. (File)

At an average speed of 37.8km/h, Team Embrace the World’s Timothy Rugg again set another tone for the race, pulling a solo attack roughly after 25 kilometers that opened a one minute and twenty seconds lead to the peloton- he never looked back.

He took the first climb of the stage after 27.3 kilometers.

As the race entered Gishwati forest, about 65 kilometres to Karongi town, Rugg who seemed to be on a mission to considerably improve his ranking on the General Classification, had stretched his lead to an overwhelming five minutes and thirty eight seconds.

The huge lead saw him comfortably take the second climb that was after 70.6 kilometres, and was followed by Ethiopian duo Mulu Hailemicheal and Desalegn Temalew.

Heading into the final 30 kilometers, the peloton chased down Rugg to cut the gap to four minutes and thirty seconds but this didn’t stop him from claiming the third and final climb that was after 103.7 kilometers – this time beating Hailemicheal, Ndayisenga and Mugisha.

As Rugg began to descend into the final 16 kilometers, the chasing group had significantly cut the lead to two minutes and thirty seconds. Nonetheless, the peloton’s effort to catch the American was never enough as he entered Karongi town to celebrate the stage win alone.

With the 10th Tour du Rwanda at halfway mark – four stages down and four more to go, Mugisha leads the General classification with a total time of 14h07’53” while Jean Claude Uwizeye is second, followed by Hailemicheal. Both riders level at 14h08’14” time used.

Action continues on Thursday with Stage 5 as riders tussle it out on a 95.1-kilometre ride from Karongi district to Rubavu district on the shores of Lake Kivu.

There will be two intermediate sprint points up for grabs with the first one after 13.7 kilometers and the second one at 74.9 kilometres.

<The New Times’ Article>

/ By RUGIGANA Jean Claude / CYCLING • News/ 0 Comments

Tour du Rwanda: Hellmann wins Stage three but Mugisha retains yellow jersey.

Team Embrace the World’s debutant Julian Hellmann wins stage three of the ongoing 2018 Tour du Rwanda, the longest stage of the annual UCI Africa tour.

hellmann

Wednesday

Stage four: Musanze-Karongi (135.8km)

Tuesday

Stage three: Huye-Musanze 199.7km

1. Julian Hellmann (Team Embrace the World) 05h11’04”

2. David Lozano (Team Novo Nordisk) 05h11’12”

3. Calvin Beneke (South Africa) 05h11’12”

4. Jonas Doring (Team Descartes Romandie) 05h11’14”

5. Valens Ndayisenga (POC Cote de Lumiere) 05h’11’15”

General Classification ranking

1. Samuel Mugisha (Team Rwanda) 10h34’00”

2. Jean Claude Uwizeye (POC Cote de Lumiere) 10h34’21”

3. Mulu Hailemicheal (Ethiopia) 10h34’21”

4. David Lozano (Team Novo Nordisk) 10h35’55”

5. Jonas Doring (Team Descartes Romandie) 10h36’07”

Team Embrace the World’s debutant Julian Hellmann has won stage three of the ongoing 2018 Tour du Rwanda, the longest stage of the annual UCI Africa tour.

The 27-year old beat off stiff competition from a strong field of breakaway riders that entered Musanze together before sprinting to claim the 199.7km stage with a total time of 5 hours, 11 minutes and 4 seconds.

Hellmann beat his closest rival with David Lozano, from USA’s Team Novo Nordisk, by eight seconds after the latter clocked 5 hours, 11 minutes and 12 seconds to claim the second spot while South Africa’s Calvin Beneke finished third the same time with Jonas Doring, from Team Descartes Romandie, using 5 hours, 11 minutes and 14 seconds to finish fourth.

Two-time Tour du Rwanda champion Valens Ndayisenga was the best Rwandan rider of the stage, finishing in the fifth place with 5 hours, 11 minutes and 15 seconds.

Yellow jersey holder Mugisha finished 13th, 1 minute and 17 seconds behind the stage winner clocking 5 hours, 12minutes and 21 seconds.

At about three kilometers into the race, four riders, including Club Benediction’s Janvier Hadi, Benjamin Favre, from Team Haute-Savoie Rhone-Alpes, and Timothy Rugg, from Team Embrace the World, made an early attack.

With 20 kilometers into the race the four cyclists were joined by a bunch of other riders to form a 23-man breakaway opening one minute and fourteen seconds to the peloton that included the yellow jersey holder Samuel Mugisha.

After 32 kilometers into the race, the breakaway had stretched their lead to two minutes and fifty one seconds, racing at an average speed of 43.10 km/h. By the time the leading group entered Muhanga town, the peloton had reduced the deficit by eight seconds.

Hadi claimed the first intermediate sprint that was at 72.8 kilometers beating Yacine Hamza from GSP Algerie and Team Descartes Romandie’s Jonas Doring.

The 2016 two-time stage winner Rugg claimed the first King of the Mountain climb that was after 85.4 kilometers beating Doring and Team Rwanda’s Didier Munyaneza.

The 32-year old also claimed the second climb that was at 116.5 kilometers beating Rwandan trio of Eric Manizabayo, Moise Mugisha and Didier Munyaneza before Hadi claimed the second and final intermediate sprint of the day after 121 kilometers beating Julian Hellmann, of Team Embrace the World, and Rwandan youngster Munyaneza.

Heading into the final 40 kilometres, five riders, including South Africa’s Calvin Beneke, Rugg, Tom Balascovic, from Team Haute-Savoie Rhone-Alpes, and Benediction’s Jean Bosco Nsengimana were leading the peloton with a gap down to one minute and three seconds.

Ethiopian 19-year old Mulu Hailemicheal snatched the final King of the Mountain climb after 165.9 kilometers beating Hellmann, Moise Mugisha and Samuel Mugisha.

As the breakaway entered Musanze town, 27-year old Hellmann accelerated beating his rivalsto cross the finish-line eight seconds ahead of Lozano to record his maiden stage win in Tour du Rwanda.

“I saw that gap towards the end and decided to sprint and fortunately it worked. This is incredible, I am very happy, thank you all so much,” a visibly excited Hellmann said.

Heading into Stage Four today, Mugisha still leads the general classification with a total time of 10h34’00” followed by Jean Claude Uwizeye (10h34’21”) who is tied on the same time as Ethiopian Hailemicheal in third position.

Meanwhile, riders will set off from Musanze town this morning heading to Karongi District in Western Province via Rutsiro District in Stage 4, a 135.8 kilometer ride that is one of the new stage routes this year, and the second longest stage in this year’s edition after Stage 3.

<The New Times’ Article>

/ By RUGIGANA Jean Claude / CYCLING • News/ 0 Comments

Tour du Rwanda: Mugisha clinches Stage 2 win, takes yellow jersey

mugisha

Today

Stage three: Huye – Musanze 195.3km

Monday

Stage two: Kigali-Huye 120.5km

Top five
1. Samuel Mugisha (Team Rwanda) 3h08’56”
2. Jean Claude Uwizeye (POC Cote de Lumière) 3h09’17”
3. Mulu Hailemicheal (Ethiopia) 3h09’17”
4. Didier Munyaneza (Team Rwanda) 3h12’20”
5. Jonas Doring (Team Descartes Romandie) 3h12’22”
General Classification, top five
1. Samuel Mugisha (Team Rwanda) 05h21’39”
2. Jean Claude Uwizeye (POC Cote de Lumière) 05h22’00”
3. Mulu Hailemicheal (Ethiopia) 05h22’00”
4. David Lozano (Team Novo Nordisk) 05h24’43”
5. Azzedine Lagab (GSP Algerie) 05h24’24”

Team Rwanda’s Samuel Mugisha yesterday put up a stunning performance as he claimed Stage 2 – from Kigali to Huye – of the ongoing 10th Tour du Rwanda to take the yellow jersey as overall leader of the race after two days.

It was the youngster’s first stage win in the annual race since his 2016 debut.

The 20-year old’s brilliant performance saw him snatch the yellow jersey from Algerian Azzedine Lagab, who had won the first stage on Sunday in Rwamagana.

Following a modest performance during the opening stage, in which only one Rwandan rider Valens Ndayisenga made it to top five, the local riders quickly responded well to prove their might in their own race on Monday, occupying three spots in the top five of yesterday’s stage

The Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka rider, who was part of the leading group since beginning of the stage in Kigali, launched a surprise escape from the breakaway within two kilometres to the finish-line to record first Tour du Rwanda’s stage win in a solo finish, covering the 120.5km distance in 3 hours, 8 minutes and 56 seconds.

His compatriot Jean Claude Uwizeye and Ethiopian Ethiopian Mulu Hailemicheal finished second and third, respectively, in a sprint photo finish, 20 seconds adrift of stage winner Mugisha.

Didier Munyaneza, also of Team Rwanda, posted 3 hours, 12 minutes and 20 seconds to settle for fourth while Doring of Team Descartes Romandie used 3h12’22” to complete top five.

Along the heavily crowded 120.5 kilometer highway from the start, the peloton moved together before Club Benediction’s 18-year old debutant Eric Manizabayo launched the first attack to comfortably claim the three points of the first climb that was at 5.8 kilometers into the race beating his Team Rwanda compatriot Didier Munyaneza who crossed it second.

After 15 kilometers, 2016 King of the Mountains Mugisha, POC Cote de Lumière’s Jean Claude Uwizeye and Ethiopia’s Mulu Hailemicheal attempted the first breakaway opening a thirty five seconds gap to the peloton.

The breakaway paid off for the Ethiopian Hailemicheal as he beat off the duo of Rwandan riders to clinch the stage’s second climb at 18.6 kilometers hence grabbing two points before also taking the intermediate sprint.

By the time the trio entered Ruhango town, they had stretched their lead to three minutes and twenty seconds ahead of the chasing group before Mugisha took second intermediate sprint.

The trio’s breakaway maintained the lead and by the time they bypassed Nyanza town before entering Huye district, the lead was at three minutes and eighteen seconds.

With 16 kilometers to the finish, the trio of Mugisha, Uwizeye and Hailemicheal had stretched their lead on the peloton further to four minutes before Mugisha launched the final attack as the trio entered Huye town to claim the stage.

While speaking to Times Sport after his historic stage win, a visibly overwhelmed Mugisha noted that, “I am very excited, this is something I have always dreamt of. I worked hard from beginning and I can only thank God and teammates to achieve the target. I know the race has just started, I believe I and my team can even do better in the next stages.”

Following stage two victory, Mugisha now leads the General Classification with a total of 5 hours, 21 minutes and 39 seconds used while Uwizeye is in the second place with 5 hours and 22 minutes, a gap of twenty seconds deficit he shared with third-placed Hailemicheal.

David Lozano of Team Novo Nordisk comes fourth having now clocked 5 hours 24 minutes and 43 seconds, three minutes and four seconds off the yellow jersey bearer. GSP Algerie’s Azzedine Lagab (5:24:43) completes top five.

Meanwhile, action continues today with the longest stage ever in the history of Tour du Rwanda, a 195.3-kilometre course from Huye town Southern Province to Musanze town in the Northern Province, the home town of Team Rwanda at Africa Rising Cycling Center, ARCC.

The stage will have two intermediate sprints along the course with the first one coming after 72.8 kilometers while the second one is after 121 kilometers.

Points for four climbs will also be up for grabs, with the first one after 85.4 kilometers, the second one after 116.5 kilometers, the third one will come after 146.2 kilometers while the final climb is after 165.9 kilometers.

<Source: The New Times>