After half a decade of support for grassroots cricket in the United Kingdom, Yorkshire Tea has announced a three-year programme to extend its reach to Rwanda.

The ‘Tea Cup Coaching Programme’ will be the next chapter in the tea brand’s backing of the rise of cricket in Rwanda following their support in the opening of the country’s first modern cricket stadium in October 2017.

The program kicked off this month as Yorkshire Tea, Cricket Builds Hope and Rwanda Cricket Association (RCA) launched the Tea Cup Coaching Programme, making cricket coaching available to schools and young people over the next three years.

The programme will culminate with a Tea Cup Tournament in 2021 at Gahanga Cricket Stadium.

At least three teachers and three tea estate staff will also be trained over the year and awarded formal RCA coaching certificates to enable coaching to continue for months and years to come.

"We’re immensely proud to be extending our partnership with Cricket Builds Hope. We know from the work we support in the UK that cricket is a unique sport that can help make a proper difference to young people’s lives,” said Ben Newbury, Senior Brand Manager at Yorkshire Tea.

"It (cricket) is growing in popularity across Rwanda for its ability to unite communities, but also to teach important skills and values.” He added.

Eddie Balaba Mugarura, the local cricket governing body’s boss, said that, "RCA is grateful for the Yorkshire Tea project that will see cricket extending to the furthest parts of Rwanda where the sport has not yet reached.”

He further noted that, "It is such partnerships that will enable RCA to achieve its vision of taking cricket to all corners of the country by 2021.”

editorial@newtimesrwanda.com