Rwanda’s acclaimed athlete Disi Dieudonne is part of a four-man team that will compete in Ivory Coast’s Abidjan international half marathon scheduled for December 23.

 "I am optimistic of winning in Abidjan but I doubt breaking a world record there because of the hot temperatures,” said Disi.

The athletes, who will be running Abidjan-Marathon for the first time, on Monday completed a one month residential training camp in the high altitudes of Ruhengeri. 

"They have had enough residential training and when you add that to the recently concluded national championship, it put them in a good shape” said Adolph Rukenkanya, the national technical coach, who will head the Abidjan-delegation.

The athletes were invited by the Ivory Coast athletics federation after a good relationship that was established between the two federations during the Udine, Italy, road racing event.

The Ivorian federation has promised to pay air-tickets for three athletes while the ministry of Youth, Culture and Sports has promised to cater for the coach and one athlete.

The Abidjan team includes Dieudonne Disi, Sylvain Rukundo, Gervais Hakizimana and Felix Ntirenganya.

"I am ready for the Marathon,” said Ntirenganya who pulled out of last month’s MTN-Kampala International marathon to prepare for the Abidjan debut.

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