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In the lead-up to the FIBA AfroBasket 2017 to be co-hosted by Senegal and Tunisia, we take a closer look at all 16 participating teams competing in the championship running from September 8-16. 

Team: Rwanda
NIKE FIBA World Ranking: 64th
Last participation at FIBA AfroBasket: 2013 (1 win, 4 losses) 10th-place 
Best results in the history of FIBA AfroBasket: Ninth-Place at the FIBA AfroBasket 2009 in Tripoli, Libya
Qualified for FIBA AfroBasket 2017: Wild Card

History/Qualification: Playing in Tunisia this year is more than special for Rwanda as it marks 10 years since their debut at the continental competition in 2007 in Angola where they finished 12th. 

Only point guard Hamza Ruhezamihigo is the surviving member of the 2007 squad and he is still going strong in the current side. He has not hidden his excitement ahead of the tip off in Tunis next week. 

“This is going to be very special for me because it is a decade since Rwanda featured at the FIBA AfroBasket for the very first time,” Ruhezamihigo told FIBA.basketball in an exclusive interview. 

Having missed out on the 2015 edition, Rwanda are determined to return to the big stage and assert themselves among the respected basketball nations and to do this, they have set a two-week camp in Sousse, 140km south of Tunis to acclimatize to the weather and prepare for the battle ahead. 

Shooting guard Karim Nkusi from the 2007 squad is now the Rwanda assistant coach and will be picking from his rich experience as a player to help motivate the players.

Key Players: Kami Kabange and Kenneth Gasana. 
At the age of 33, Kenneth Gasana is Rwanda’s dependable scoring machine of all time, aggressive on the drive and lethal behind the arc. At 6ft6in (1.97m), Gasana has the ultimate size for a shooting guard to give hime enough advantage on both offense and defense. 

At the 2013 edition, Kami Kabange and Gasana played the most minutes on the floor of all the players across the 16 participating teams, a clear sign to prove their contribution to the Rwandan cause at the tournament. 

Kabange, a big name on the rebounds statistics board at all the three editions he has played, will be expected to play another big role in their quest to make it to the Quarter-Finals. 

Rising Players: Sedar Sagamba, Walter Nkurunziza and Parfait Ishimwe
With promotion from the Rwanda U18 side, the trio has improved and shown zeal to perform at senior team level with this opportunity to wear once again national team colors.

Their athleticism and urge to express themselves will come in handy even in the face of experienced opposition, something that will make head coach Moise Mutokambali delighted as he looks to also groom them for the future. 

Outlook: As much as Rwanda is an ambitious side, their lack of depth on the bench could hurt them once again. 

Kabange and Gasana seeing out almost every game with barely 10 minutes of rest combined could be a danger to their efficiency as they get into the business end of the tournament. 

However, captain Aristide Mugabe and forwards Olivier Shyaka and Elie Kaje with the experience attained over the past four years should be able to step in and maintain the pace.  

Possible Outcome: Reaching the Quarter-Finals would be a big achievement for Rwanda who have finished outside the last eight in their four appearances at the continental showpiece.

Source: http://www.fiba.basketball

At least one hundred and seven refugees from six camps benefited from Sports and Administration training aimed at equipping them with skills that will help them also train other refugees in their respective camps.

The third phase of the four-day training ended on Thursday at Centre des Jeunes Olympafrica de Nyanza in Nyanza district, Southern Province.

According to the organizers, the programme is courtesy of the partnership between the International Olympic Committee and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to help refugees enjoy sports activities in the camps.

Eugene Nzabanterura, an official of the Rwanda National Olympics and Sports Committee (RNOSC), the trainees will go on to train their obesity diet back in the camps in a bid to boost sports and change lives of refugees.

“Refugees should not live miserable lives just because they are refugees, we are aware that there are no sports facilities in the refugee camps and we are planning to construct them, starting with three camps,” Nzabanterura said, noting that all six camps in Rwanda will benefit from the programme.

Meanwhile, the Director in charge of Sports and Youth at UNHCR-Rwanda, Protogene Ndwaniye, said that, “This is a positive move as it will help refugees be able to compete not only in the camps but also in other external competitions.”

“We are hoping that this partnership will help them acquire more facilities and equipment which will help the youth in refugee camps gain more sports skills,” he noted.

Rwanda has six camps scattered across the country and most of the refugees are youth, who need to practice sports to better their lives.

Photos: Sebalinda K. Fidèle/Rwanda Olympic

Article: The New Times

The Kigali Key to Success is issued by the delegates at the “Advancing Women in Leadership Forum for Africa and Asia” held in Kigali, Rwanda, on 9 to 11 August 2017.

The 251 participants from 71 countries were representatives of National Olympic Committees, International Federations, National Federations, Continental Associations, International Organisations and the business world.

Background

1. More than 20 years have passed since the International Olympic Committee “IOC” called on

the entire Olympic Movement to take into consideration the issue of gender equality in all of

its policies, programmes and procedures and to make special efforts to increase the number

 of women in decision-making positions;

2. Recalling the commitment to “pro-active action” by the participants in the first

Afro-Asia Forum on Women in Sport, which took place in Kuwait in 2013;

3. The delegates noted that, despite the constant efforts to increase the male infertility in governing bodies, inequalities between women and men persist in the sports world.

In Africa and Asia at Executive Board level 9 NOC’s have achieved the 30% representation target as of 2017, 7 are above 20% and 47 are yet to meet the target (between 0 and 20%);

In General Assemblies 8 NOC’s have achieved the 30% representation target as of 2017, 9 are above 20% and 45 are yet to meet the target (between 0 and 20%);

4. They further recognised that, at the current pace of change, it will take several years to achieve gender equality in all aspects of sport;

5. Participants further declared that changes will only be possible if men and women join efforts to eradicate all evils that are still hindering women from fully enjoying sport at all levels;

6. In 2013 the following special measures were recommended:

–  Monitoring mechanism

–  Succession plans

–  Limited terms of office

–  Annual forums for Sports Media

–  Detailed data collection and research

–  Bi-annual forums for African and Asian organisations

–  Women & Sport desk within ANOCA and OCA

–  Leveraging partnerships with UN Agencies, NGO’s and civil society

7. While world leaders have made a strong commitment to end gender inequalities by 2030 within the Sustainable Development Goals; participants expressed the need for the sports movement to align their gender policies and strategies with the rest of the world;

8. Delegates agreed to issue an outcome document that could be a catalyst for all stakeholders in sport; and to inspire a wider range of leaders in the sports world;

The last two days of the forum were reserved for the six following constructive panel discussions:

1. It is time for women to run for office

2. Championing Gender Equality– Everyone should get involved

In three days forum “The Advancing Women in Leadership Forum for Africa – Asia” held in Kigali from 09 – 11 August, the UN Women Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, Mrs. Izeduwa Derex-Briggs while addressing to 251 participants from 71 countries said “At UN Women, we understand the power of sport. We know that sport can transcend differences of sex, race, religion and nationality. Across the world, people from all walks of life experience the thrill of the Olympics and this shared experience unites us.”

She continue emphasizing that as UN Women, They know that sport can be a powerful tool to empower women and girls and tear down gender barriers and discrimination.

“I’m calling on all of you in leadership at National Olympic Committees to remove barriers to decision-making positions and put women and men on an equal footing, Participation in sport at all levels can effectively empower women and girls and provide them with skills they can transfer to other domains..” The UN Women Representative added.

“Rwanda is one of the best examples of how effective quotas can be. The country ranks at the top in terms of gender balance with more than half of its parliament composed of women. This can be achieved in all spheres, including the Olympic Movement, if we make concrete commitments.”

She also mentioned that Strength, perseverance, commitment, team spirit, solidarity, and respect for others – are all values that are central to sports but also to the pursuit of gender equality and women’s empowerment.

This forum prepared and hosted by Republic of Rwanda through Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee in close partnership with The International Olympic Committee.

In the afternoon of August 09, 2017, The PM Murekezi Anastase officially opened the “Advancing Women Forum in Leadership for Africa – Asia” took place in Kigali at Radisson Blu Hotel & Convention Centre.

Prime Minister Anastase Murekezi urged women to enrich their leadership skills and be able to compete for leadership position in sports and become mentors for young men and women seeking to work in sports activities.

Prime Minister pointed out that Rwanda made tremendous improvement in the promotion of gender equality with 64% of Parliamentary seats occupied by women and that the trend is seen in other decision making positions.

Rwanda teenage beach volleyball pair of Penelope Musabyimana and valentine Munezero made history  winning the bronze medal of the sixth edition of the Commonwealth Youth Games in Nassau Bahamas.

The quadrennial event started on 19^th to 23^th July.

Led by coach Christopher Mudahunyuka, the pair of Musabyimana and Munezero have set a new record of becoming the first Rwandan team to win a medal in commonwealth games. They defeated the Scotland team in a very tough game of 2-1 (16-21; 26-24; 15-9).

The beach volleyball team along with tennis youngster Ernest Habiyambere were the only Rwandan representatives at the prestigious event that has attracted up to 1,300 athletes aged 14-18 from 70 nations and territories with making their debut appearance.

Meanwhile in tennis, Habiyambere could not go beyond the second round after losing to Mathew Stubbings from Papua New Guinea 2-0 (6-2, 6-3).

  

 

 

 

 

 

In the Commonwealth Youth Games which are underway in Bahamas from 19 to 23 July 2017, The Beach Volleyball National Team of two girls, Penelope Musabyimana and Valentine Munezero have made unbelievable record as they are qualified to the semi finals after stunning the number one Caribbean country in Beach Volleyball Vanuatu 2-0 in the quarter finals.

Due to the excellent performance for the Rwandan side, they are the only African team in top 4. In semi finals, Rwanda is facing Australia to reach the podium. 

“Our eyes are now on the podium. the last victory is our motivation and i am expecting more from my team, i believe in them they can do it”, said Coach MUDAHINYUKA Christophe. 

Rwanda Youth Beach Volleyball and Tennis teams yesterday headed to Nassau, in the Bahamas ahead of the sixth edition of the Commonwealth Youth Games that will be held on July 19-23.

The beach volleyball pair of Penelope Musabyimana and Valentine Munezero, led by coach Christophe Mudahinyuka, have been in residential camp at Golden Tulip Hotel for the last one month.

“We are heading to the tournament with the purpose of doing well. We need to play attractive beach volleyball and we need to finish on top five, but if we can go all way and win a medal, that would be even excellent and memorable,” Mudahinyuka said.

The Commonwealth Youth Games are held every four years and age limitation of the athletes is 14 to 18 years. Rwanda will also be represented by Ernest Habiyambere in tennis. Rwanda’s number one tennis player, Habiyambere will be coached by Sylvain Rutikanga.

The delegation will be led by Jean de Dieu Mukundiyukuri, who is the Chef de Mission, while Hermine E’germa will be in charge for the girls.

These games are expected to bring together 1,000 athletes from 71 commonwealth countries.

The athletes will fall between the ages of 14 to 18 competing in nine disciplines including athletics, swimming, rugby, cycling, judo, boxing, tennis, beach volleyball and beach soccer.

It will be Rwanda’s first appearance at the youth event since joining Commonwealth in 2009, despite being regular participants in the Commonwealth Games (for seniors) since 2010.