Category: Sports

In the finals of the 2011CECAFA that brought together Rwanda’s Amavubi and Uganda Cranes, and after 120 minutes game, Rwanda has been finally defeated today.

In the strong efforts revealed between two national teams; they equalized 2 by 2 during the 120 minutes game and finally Uganda scored 3 goals against Rwanda’s 2 goals in a penalty shootout.

Amavubi striker Olivier Karekezi made a blunder and scored a goal on his side plus Isaac Isindi shooting in the next goal for Uganda while on the Rwandan side Meddie Kagere rescued the team by scoring 2 goals before penalties.

Uganda National team the Cranes took the trophy and $30,000 while Rwanda scooped $20,000. Sudan pocketed $10,000.

Zanzibari President Dr. Ali Mohamed Shein handed the trophy to Cranes captain Andy Mwesigwa.

Veteran striker Olivier Karekezi has wooed his teammates by insisting that the current Amavubi team has what it takes to end their 12-year-wait for another Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup title.

Rwanda last won the tournament back in 1999 when they fielded two sides in the competition. However, the Amavubi captain, who has rediscovered his form under new coach Milutin Micho, does not see why the team cannot go all the way this year.

“We have a good side with a blend of youth and experience but more importantly, players desperate to impress in the tournament,” Karekezi said.

Last year, Rwanda was knocked out at the quarter-final stage by eventual champions Tanzania after a 1-0 defeat but Karekezi is convinced that the wasps can oust the reigning champions today in Group A’s opening fixture.

“For any tournament, the hosting team usually has a slight advantage over the rest but I think we can upset Tanzania,” Karekezi noted.

On the fifth day of the cycling competition dubbed ‘Tour of Rwanda 2011’ Smet Guy a Beligian citizen topped the Muhanga-Huye race.

Guy from FLANDERS AVIA club was followed by Ruvogera Obedi a Rwandan national from Akagera team.

The route surprised many due to results change when they saw the potential cyclists not emerging in their usual best positions.

People like Kiel Reijnen and Joseph Rosskopf who have been doing well in the previous routes were left far behind this time.

However much American Joseph Rosskopf who was the 9th in this in Muhanga-Huye route, is still the best and still wearing a yellow jersey because he leads in the accumulated points since the competition started.

Jean de Dieu Uwimana commonly known as Rafiki also from Akagera club emerged fourth in the Muhanga-Huye route contributing points to the team though it remains on the seventh position.

Abraham Ruhumuriza whose home area is Huye where ride destined did not quench his funs expectations but unfortunately emerging the 16th in race while his colleague Adrien Niyyonshuti topping six positions.

Muhanga-Huye route of 72.4km has been the first time cyclist raced the route following previous years which would be either Kigali-Huye or Karongi-Huye.

This has been the tour of Rwanda 2011’s fifth stage, the remaining sixth and seventh stage, cyclists will now race in a Huye -Karongi and Karongi- Kigali routes respectively.

Cycling competitors’ lineup
1. ROSSKOPF Joseph (Type 1 SANOFI)
2. REIJNEN Kiel (Type 1 SANOFI)
3. GIRDLESTONE Dylan (MTN QHUBEKA)
4. BYUKUSENGE Nathan (Karisimbi )
5. HATEGEKA Gasore (Karisimbi )
6. RUHUMURIZA Abraham (Karisimbi )
7. NIYONSHUTI Adrien (MTN QHUBEKA)
8. HABIYAMBERE Nicodem (Karisimbi )’
9. CHENEVIER Aléxis (RHONE ALPES)
10. KOGO Benjamin (Kenya)
11. RUDAHUNGA Emmanuel (Karisimbi )

Local cyclers have attained the third place in the ongoing Tour of Rwanda cycling competition that started from Kigali to Rubavu district yesterday.

Gasore Hategeka and Abraham Ruhumuriza were awarded among the top three.

It has been noticed that Rwandan cyclers are performing better in this year’s competition, among the hardworking riders include Emmanuel Rudahunga who in the recent Kigali-Rubavu competition was on the lead from Gakenke to Rubavu.

In this race, cycling became stiffer 30 Km towards the finishing line.

However,Rwandan Ruhumuriza and Gasore managed to stay in the lead.

Meanwhile most cyclists became more hardworking when they reached Mahoko town area know to be crucial circuit in the race closer to the finishing line.

American Joseph Rosskopf in this particular race won the first place within a time of 4:17:51 hs, he was followed by Rwandan Gasore and Ruhumuriza respectively.

Reijnen from team type 1, though he has performed better in previous races, came in fourth position in this particular competition. Niyoshuti finished in the sixth place.

Meanwhile, preliminary scores rank American Rosskopf on the first position with a cycling period of 7:39:33hrs. He is followed by Gasore 7:40:38hrs, thirdly is Ruhumuriza a minute late from Gasore, the fourth position is held by Kiel Reijnen (7:42:08hrs) finally Adrien Niyonshuti of MTN QHUBEKA (7:42:26hrs) holds the fifth position.

Today Wednesday Nov.23, competitors set off from Rubavu at around 9hr00 to for a total distance of 140.8 KM to Muhanga district.

Rwandan cyclists under Karisimbi club emerged the winner of today’s Tour of Rwanda 2011 cycling competition which started from Amahoro National Stadium to Rubavu District in Northern Province.

The annual cycling competition in its third day, American cyclist Joseph Rosskopf took the first position as he pass the finishing line.

Despite Rosskopf’s overall winner, Karisimbi cyclists took a lion’s share recognized as the winning club due to its cyclists taking the lead in several races ever since the competition begun.

However judges have not yet announced Rosskopf as the overall winner as they still have another race tomorrow.

Official results have indicated that 3 Rwandan cyclists Gasore Hategeka, Abraham Ruhumuriza and Adrien Niyonshuti took the third position.

According to Nicodem Habiyambere a cyclists who participated in the Kigali-Rwamagana race short and flat distances are harder since they cycle more compared to hilly areas like Rubavu because there are easy due to sloping parts on the way.

Tomorrow (Wednesday) the race starts from Rubavu to Muhanga District.

Ends

In election that took place Today Saturday at Rwanda’s football association (FERWAFA), Remera, former international referee Celestine Ntagungira commonly known as Abega emerged with a land slide win.

A competition that saw three others on the same post, two of the candidates Gerald Nkusi Mukubu and Clement Emmanuel Byiringiro pulled out from the race surrendering their votes to Ntagungira reasons of pulling out kept to themselves.

Over 30 Fédération Rwandaise de Football Association (FERWAFA) members were present to participate in the election process joined by four members representing first division clubs and two representing second division clubs for voting.

Additionally women football, referees’ association and coaching associations’ representative carried one vote.

Ntagungira’s rival managed to get only four votes out of 83 votes win. It was made clear however that Ntagungira will work together incumbent regime for the next two year to complete its term.

Ntagungira replaces Brig. Gen. Jean Bosco Kazura, who resigned last month citing personal reasons followed by Secretary General Jules Kalisa who also handed in his resignations one after his boss and they both cited personal reasons.

Till now details of their sudden resignation is not known though Kazura’s resignation also followed days after the Amavubi former head coach, Sellas Tetteh resigned following the game Amavubi lost to the Elephants of Ivory Coast 0-5 in the 2012 AFCON qualifiers campaign.

“Taking our football to the next level is a vital and challenging task, i will not accomplish this task alone. I need everyone’s support and advice from all stake holders to make this mission possible.” Ntagungira said in his speech after election.

The 46-year old Ntagungira vowed to refurbish Rwandan football right from grassroots to the top level.

He intends to professionalize the national league, and bringing back what has been said a broken bi-lateral relation with CAF and FIFA while creating enforcing transparency.

Ntagungira also said he will embark on the development of women football and internal development to bring corporate football development in the country.

Ntagungira stands out as Rwanda’s most decorated referee after officiating at two Fifa World Cups, three Africa Nations Cup, two World Club Championships, two U-20 youth championships, the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and numerous continental and regional tournaments.