NINE GOLFERS have been selected by the Rwanda Golf Union (RGU) to represent the country at the East Africa Golf Challenge Trophy (EAGCT) slated for August 27-31 at the par 71,  Entebbe lakeside course. 

Rwanda Golf Union boss Andrew Nkwandi told Sunday Sport on Friday that the national team has been beefed up with new players such as Aloys Nsabimana, James Ndikumana and Joseph Barame with hope of staging impressive performance. 

"This team has had good preparations and despite not being able to register higher positions in the past edition, we are very hopeful of staging a good show in Uganda this time round,” said Nkwandi.

He added, "Just like every sportsperson, who wants to be first or second, we also hope and aspire to do better this year compared to previous editions,” 

The national golf team coach Emmanuel Ruterana is also optimistic of registering improvements in this year’s edition. 

"The team has been responding well to training and according to individual performances, we are very confident and hopeful of making improvements,” he noted in a separate interview. 

Others members on the team include; Emmanuel Rutayisire, Aphrodis Nyilinkwaya, Jules Mutesa, Augustin Habineza, Leonard Nkurunziza and Francois Habimana. 

Rwandans will go to next week’s tournament with a hope of improving their fourth position attained during last year’s edition held in Kenya. 

Hosts Kenya won the tournament with 19 points, ahead of Uganda, to retain the tournament for a second consecutive year. Tanzania finished third with 15 and a half points, while Rwanda settled for the fourth place with 8 and a half points. 

Debutants Ethiopia put up a brave fight in the closing round, winning three and halving one for a total of seven points in sixth, while Burundi finished last with three and half points. 

The teams will arrive in Kampala next Wednesday ahead of Thursday’s practice round as well as the flag raising ceremony and the team manager’s meeting. 

The East African Golf Challenge is played off a matchplay format with two singles rounds sandwiching action in the foursomes and four balls.