KICUKIRO - Rwandan and British cricket teams held a friendly match at Kicukiro Cricket Oval yesterday.

The match, which saw two teams pitted against each other, aimed at furthering cooperation between Rwanda and the British community.

The chairman of the Rwanda Cricket Association, Charles Haba, said that the Rwandan cricket teams holds an annual friendly match with the British community. Explained Haba; "Every year we hold a friendly match with the British community in Rwanda and this year it coincided with the visit by the British Conservative Party.”

UK Conservatives are in Rwanda spending two weeks to learn firsthand development challenges and to offer targeted professional help according to their expertise.

Haba added that the event helps to improve the quality of the game since it’s a recent introduction in Rwanda in 2002.

Clyn Chambers, an economist from the UK who is part of the Conservative delegation, told Sunday Times that the game was important to them because it helps to create connections and contacts with different people in Rwanda.

Players from Rwandan teams, Young Tigers and Challenge, participated in the game. Young Tigers player Paul Harindaintwari, 15, said it was great for him to participate in a cricket match with the British community in Rwanda and visitors from the UK.

"I started playing cricket recently and having visitors playing with us is very encouraging,” said Harindaitwari.

Lady Fiona Hodgson, the President of the Conservative Women’s Organisation, said she was thrilled to see Rwandans play cricket in a very professional manner when the game is so new to the country.

Cricket has been an established team sport for hundreds of years.  The sport’s modern form originated in England, and is most popular in the present and former members of the Commonwealth.

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