The national amateur golf team has begun daily training ahead of the 17th edition of the East African Golf Challenge slated for 7-11 November at the Par-18 Kigali Golf course in Nyarutarama.

The eight-man team has started training twice a day since the start of this week under the watchful eye of coach Emmanuel Ruterana, who says they are not taking anything for granted.

Ruterana revealed that they will go into the tournament vying for their first ever title after finishing third last year, half a point behind Kenya, who finished second behind the champions and hosts Uganda.

"We have stepped up our training program, working 6 hours daily (3 hours morning and afternoon), the players are responding well to the drills and I hope we shall do a better job than we have ever done in previous editions,” said Ruterana, who’s Rwanda’s number two professional golfer.

He noted that their record in last year’s tourney boosted their confidence having played at Entebbe golf club which they were not familiar with.

"It was my first year with the team as the coach, but now I have had enough time with the players and they have shown great improvement,” added Ruterana.

The team includes; Jules Dusabe (captain), Aphrodis Nyirinkwaya, Aloys Nsabimana, Aloys Nkurunziza, Felicien Habineza, Francois Habimana, Joseph Barame and James Ndikumana.

Countries that will be taking part in the East African Golf Challenge are; Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda Burundi, new entrants DR Congo and guest team, Ethiopia. Kenya are the record winners with 11 titles, Uganda has won the tournament four times while Tanzania has won it once.

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