The three players representing Rwanda at the forthcoming Karate1 Premier League, a two-day African competition starting on Saturday, in Egypt, are ready to face continental opposition, Vanily Ngarambe, vice captain of the national team said on Tuesday.

National Karate Federation (Ferwaka) technical director Guy Didier Rurangayire said the team that includes players Vanily Ngarambe, Christian Rurangayire and Espoir Ntungane, all aged 22, will leave for Egypt on Wednesday afternoon, for their first international tournament of the year.

Ngarambe said: "We are well prepared even though we did not train together for a long time. Our aim is to try to win the first match because it is what encourages one to go further.”

All the three players will compete in Kumite [fighting] bouts in the tournament to be held in Sharm el-Sheikh.

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