Rwanda athletes are set to have a training stint in Ethiopia courtesy of the Confederation of African Ministries of Sport ahead of the African Senior championship due in Addis Ababa from April 30-May 5.

The continental body has offered to take up the initiative of facilitating Rwanda’s team as well as other French speaking countries to a two-week residential training in preparation for the championship due.

The local athletics federation Secretary General Appolinare Munyangoga told Times Sport yesterday that this was a major boost in regard to preparing the national squad.

"We were still tracing for funds to enter our squad in residential training. This training stint in Ethiopia will help our local athletes to gain exposure from fellow regional athletes.”

"This will also help them in acclimatizing with the hot Ethiopian climate as well as get used to the competitive site ahead of the championship,” Munyangoga said. The seven man team which includes six athletes and one coach will head to Ethiopia next week.

They include: Sylvain Rukundo(10000m), Cyriaque Ndayikengurikiye(5000m), Musa Bizimana(400m), Jeanne d’Arc Uwamahoro(800m), Sophia Kanakuze(200m) and Angéline Nyiransabimana(10000m) and Emmanuel Habiyambere(Coach). Coach Habiyambere is confident his squad will clinch the minimum standard qualification for the Beijing Games.

Rwanda has only two athletes who have beaten the qualification standards for Beijing Games and they include Dieudonné Disi 10000m) and Epiphanie Nyirabarame (women full marathon).

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