Category: Sports

By: Marcel Nzabamwita

As the football season is about to start, more teams are showing fruits of the preparation as the training has began. Igihe.com visited La Jeunesse FC at their training grounds at Mumena Stadium and talked to team officials on their preparations.

“In the current transfer season we have signed 3 new players, Mazimpaka André from Police FC, Habimana Hassan aka ‘Papy from Mukura FC and Ndunguzi Faraj from Marines FC . We have also played friendly games in preparation. So far we played against Nyanza FC in which we lost 2-1.”

“On Thursday we have a game against the Amavubi national team which is also in training and a game against Mukura FC towards the end of the week” said Ruremesha Emmanuel, La Jeunesse FC’s head coach.

Igihe.com also talked to Habyarimana Kassim who is a midfielder in La Jeunesse who said: “This year plans are to perform better and finish much higher than last year.

We plan to take the trophy or at least second position at the end of the league that would qualify us for international tournaments” said the playmaker.

The pre-season games will start on September 7 while the actual season is scheduled to start on September 17.

By: Marcel Nzabamwita

Rwanda Footbal referees and their instructors have completed one week of training in preparation for the upcoming football season.

The training was a partnership between FIFA and CAF

Raoul Gisanura, the FERWAFA vice president, officiated in the closing of the training. In his remarks, he highlighted the role of referees in upholding the quality of football in Rwanda and encouraged them to extend their roles across the continent.

A total of 26 referees and assistants passed the test on Saturday whose focus was on Technique, Interpretation and Psychology of the game.
They were led by a team of 20 instructors who helped them in keeping up to date with the current rules and technicalities of the game.

FIFA’s Alain Mungwenge at the launch of training said, “this training program should help improving quality of football as a game. This is a role of referees teaching players what to do and what to avoid during the game.”

Richard Peers, 27, a coach at Hale United JFC and director of charity Orphan UK, led a group of Conservative volunteers on a month-long trip in the country as part of the party’s Project Umubano created by Prime Minister David Cameron in 2007.

The project works with communities in Sierra Leone and Rwanda. While in Rwanda, the team held training sessions with over 500 children and worked with football coaches.

They also handed over 2,000 football kits, from the charity Afrikit donated by several football clubs including Manchester City and Stockport County.

Richard, a former Trafford Council candidate, said he had been inspired by the confidence, happiness and skill of Rwanda’s young footballers.

He also said that there’s a serious lack of equipment and that the soccer talents here could be going to waste.

“Many of the children play football barefooted and often with plastic bags wrapped in rubber bands as balls, yet most possess skills worth of British Academy players.

“We hope that through working closely with the Rwandan children, we have empowered them to gain an increased confidence not only to express their talents in sport but also to work hard to help Rwanda continue to grow as a model of African development.” Richard pointed out.

By: Marcel Nzabamwita

Exactly one year ago the media fraternity, lovers of sports and the country as a whole lost one of their own and an asset to the community: Shyaka Claver.

In a sudden death due to heart complications, one of the founders of sports journalism in Rwanda was gone but the impact of his work will live on forever.

Shyaka Claver was born in Uganda on the 23rd October 1978. He started presenting the sports show at Radio 10 in late 2004 but also did more as he presented an Education show.

His memorial service today began with a church service which was held in the morning and was succeeded by a visit to the grave at 1:30 pm. The memorial service was then completed at the national stadium with two friendly matches.

Shyaka Claver was involved in mentoring young children playing soccer around the country and was known for his attendance at training grounds for children to take a look at the developing talent.

It is in this light that the first memorial game was between two teams that he had mentored: “11 rapide” and Esperance. The game ended with Esperance winning 4 goals to 2 of “11 rapide”.

An excitement filled friendly-match followed between sports journalists and ULK students who studied with Shyaka Claver before his demise. The game ended on a happy note with the ULK students scoring 6 goals to 2 goals of the journalists.

Shyaka Claver will be remembered for his work in founding and promoting sports journalism and professionalism in Rwanda that was nonexistent barely 7 years ago. He was also a husband to Peace Batamuliza Shyaka, a father to two beautiful daughters, a friend to many and an impact on the whole journalism arena in Rwanda.

By: Marcel Nzabamwita

Having been elevated to first division, Nyanza FC has also started preparations for the upcoming PRIMUS cup by signing new players.

In an interview with radio Contact FM, Nshimiyimana Maurice aka Maso, the assistant coach of Nyanza FC said, “we started our training early because we are a young team, with young players who still need to develop their skills.”

“We have mainly retained the players that we started with and purchased a few players from other teams who didn’t pose great difficulty in attaining them since we are still low on funds and unable to obtain expensive players.”

“So far we have 12 players who are definitely playing for us in the coming season. We have managed to sign Theoneste while Rucogoza Aimable ‘Mambo’ former captain of Rayon Sports is still in negotiations,” the deputy coach revealed.

Nyanza FC is joining the star-studded first division to try its luck in developing its young talent. The season begins on September 17

By: Marcel Nzabamwita

As the beginning of the football season nears, Jean Marie Ntagwabira, Rayon Sports Coach says the season break has been characterized by transfers and internal changes within teams.

He, however, revealed that his squad is not yet complete with some of the transfers which are still under negotiations.

“The players who are arriving in Kigali today include Fuadi Ndayisenga, Saidi Abed, Sina Jerome and Tommy Okello.

“These are the four players that I am sure are coming today and will be in training tomorrow morning.” Ntagwabira told Igihe.com during their training at ETO Kicukiro which was attended by several supporters.

The manager further disclosed the club is planning to bring in more two players from Nigeria and two from Uganda.

“The players from Uganda are Tommy Okello who was playing for Thika United and Osama Farouk who was playing for Uganda Revenue Authority FC.

“ I have been eyeing these players because they are free agents and haven’t signed any contracts with their teams. If I find them to be good players we shall sign them” he added.

These, however, not the only players that are expected to sign for Rayon Sports. Karim Makenzi is currently training with the team but hasn’t signed a contract yet because his paperwork is still being processed by FERWAFA, the football governing body.

“Cedric Hamisi and Bokota Labama are expected to arrive on Tuesday. Negotiations with them are already complete and they are not coming to be tested.

“ The players coming to be tested are the two Nigerians, Tommy Okello, Osama Farouk and also one Burundian player who is currently in training” said the head coach.

FERWAFA requires every team to have a maximum of 5 foreign players in the line-up and Ntagwabira told igihe.com that: “I plan to sign only 6 foreign players. If I happen to see anyone who dazzles me then maybe I could sign 7.”

Rayon Sports have so far signed 2 foreign players, Hussein Mbanze and Juma Mpongo and left with four or five new foreigners.

In preparation for the upcoming season, Rayon sports are planning a friendly match against the Tanzanian club Azam FC which will take place on August 17.
The PRIMUS cup tournament kicks off on September 17.

By Karirima Ngarambe Aimable

The president of Ibuka-Belgium, Eric Rutayisire has revealed to igihe.com that the “Ibuka Trophy 2011” games will take place on 13th August.

The games will be held in memory of the young men and women that were victims of the 1994 Tutsi genocide.

Participants will engagein mini-football, volleyball and basketball games and
later followed by an awards ceremony at the ‘Blocry Place des sportifs’ sports complex located at 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve.

“Upholding the memory of our loved ones shouldn’t be a one day event; there should be activities that continuously remind us of the wonderful times we shared before our families were killed. Such activities also help us in overcoming our grief together,” he added.

“Everyone is invited to this event, whether it is those who enjoyed sports with the deceased, or their friends, classmates and relatives” he said.

Mr. Rutayisire called on everyone living in and around Belgium to come and support them in this activity of remembering their loved ones that were victimized by the genocide.

The “Ibuka Trophy” is an annual event that hadn’t been active in the last few years but the 2011 version is going to be its rebirth.

By: Marcel Nzabamwita

The Rwandan Football Federation (FERWAFA) with the assistance from FIFA and CAF have started a one week training for the referees and their instructors in preparation for the season that kicks of Mid September.

Presiding over the opening ceremony at Amahoro Stadium conference room this morning, the President of FERWAFA Brig. Jean Bosco Kazura argued the soccer technicians to work with tireless zeal to improve on the local tournamants.

“Referees are inherently leaders who are usually in charge of more than just 22 players in their daily lives. And the most important characteristic of a leader is humility.

“This humility should enable you to listen and watch and learn what takes place in the game in order to lead the players in the right way” he added.

Alain Mungwenge accompanied by Technical Instructor Remy Dawili represented FIFA while CAF was represented by Augustin Njoya..

Mungwenge also stressed that the training program should help improve the quality of football as a game and it is the role of the referees to teach the players what to do and what not to do in the game.

He went on to add that Rwanda was submitted in the FIFA annual list of countries where the refereeing conditions were ideal for the development of the game.

Rwanda is increasingly showing professionalism in the refereeing discipline and was represented in the 2010 world cup in South Africa by Celestin Ntagungira and in the 2011 U-17 world cup in Mexico by Felicien Kabanda.

Meanwhile, Training for the Amavubi national team kicks off at La Pallisse Clubhouse in preparation for the game against Ivory Coast early next month.

By Marcel Nzabamwita

The Rwandan football governing body FERWAFA has announced that there will be shorter mid-season beaks and simultaneous tournaments in the upcoming season to keep the game more exciting.

Addressing various team representatives in preparation for the PRIMUS cup scheduled to start on September17, the FERWAFA Secretary General Jules Kalisa reportedly told the meeting was aimed at discussing various issues to improve on the upcoming tournaments.

Kalisa, however, clarified that a final meeting will take place next Friday August 12 and the decisions made from these two meetings will be presented to the General Assembly for approval on September 10.

In an exclusive interview with Igihe.com, Gakwaya Olivier, the Secretary General of Rayon Sports FC said the meeting had a fruitful discussion.

‘The purpose of the meeting was to provide the football team representatives with a closed forum in which we could discuss team-related issues ahead of the General Assembly which will take place next month.

“A provisional time table was drawn up for the upcoming season. Due to complaints about the lack of energy and excitement in the last season, we have decided to make a shorter season with breaks in between so that the fans can always have quality football to watch” Gakwaya disclosed.

He further pointed out that the Primus League will also take place simultaneously with the Peace cup in order to provide constant entertainment to the fans.

Pre-season games also start on September 10 which will involve games before the top four teams from last season which are APR FC, Kiyovu Sports, Police FC and Etincelles FC.

The season that kicks off on September17 ends on June 9, 2012 where each of the 12 teams involved will have played 22 games.

By: Marcel Nzabamwita

The Rwanda Volley Ball Federation has held a conference aimed at addressing misunderstandings in the Volleyball national team and enlightening the public about plans and activities of the federation.

The major complaint by the national beach volleyball team is about the failure to receive their training bonuses that were promised to them since last year.

FRVB president, Uzayisenga Charles confirmed that the ministry of sports had not yet honoured their promised bonuses and rebuked the beach volleyball team for their reprehensible actions in Mombasa last week where they represented Rwanda in the early qualifiers for the African Olympic game qualifiers.

Makuza Lauren the advisor to the Sports minister told the press that the delay on honouring bonuses was due to a myriad of factors including commencement of a new fiscal year that started in July and that processing different accounts and paperwork was needed to release the money.

“I can assure players that all the money we owe them will be paid and even though I can’t specify the date, I can promise that by the end of the month of August all these issues will be resolved,” said Makuza.

After complaining several times to FRVB, the volleyball players almost forfeited their games and only accepted to play after a lot of begging and compromise from the FRVB in Rwanda.

However, volleyball players managed to qualify for the next round although the FRVB was displeased by the players’ bad sportsmanship.

All the 8 players of the men and women beach volleyball team were temporarily suspended and a special commission instituted to handle the situation and decide appropriate consequences for their actions.

Uzayisenga informed the press that the national girls’ beach volleyball team apologized to the FRVB for their misconduct.

It was also revealed that the Sports ministry is considering cutting down costs spent on the national team training and involvement in competitions in order to focus their efforts on growing home talent.

“The ministry of sports and the government of Rwanda in general have little means and cannot take up projects unless they are sure the prospects of reaching far and completing them are viable. For this reason, we shall be meeting with the federation and choose which projects are more significant in growing the sport and bringing glory to the country. The rest of the money will be spent in strengthening sports programs in schools and academies in order to make Rwanda a sporting nation” he said.

Mr. Eliya Manirarora, the vice president of the Athleticism federation of Rwanda announced the upcoming participation of Rwanda in the All African Games due in Maputo, Mozambique.

Of the 24 sport disciplines that will be taking place, Rwanda will be involved in 11 of them because the rest are not games played in Rwanda.

A total of 112 people will represent Rwanda of which 27 of them will be officials. A one-month preparation-training period is currently underway with the involved players in secluded preparation camps.

He said the Cycling team is currently training in Switzerland while the boxing team is training in France. The chief of the mission at the All African Games will be Mr. Kayijuka Gaspard from the Ministry of Sports.

It was also announced that the women’s Volleyball African cup of nations will take place in Nairobi from 15th -27th ,August.

Jean Marie Nsengiyumva said that the national volleyball team has grown stronger through the years and that we are hopeful for good results even if we may not come out the best.