The national golf team has intensified preparations for the 2012 East African Challenge scheduled for November 5-11 in Bujumbura, Burundi.According to the team’s coach Jean Baptiste Hakizimana, Rwanda will be hoping to overcome last year’s disappointing second last finish. "The team has been preparing quiet well and I am hoping for the best from the players. The team is quite young, and if I can compare with previous editions, there is optimism about our chances of posting a much improved performance,” Hakizimana, himself a professional golfer, told Times Sport.He added, "They have had good training sessions. In Bujumbura we will be working as a team with the aim of not only improving on our previous performances but also to win the tournament. It won’t be easy but we plan to give it our best shot.The team is expected to depart for Bujumbura on Sunday by road.Hakizimana has been training with 15 players at Kigali golf course, but he will pick nine players, who will represent the country in this year’s edition.Some of the players likely it on make to the team for the four-day tournament include; team captain Jules Mutesa, Leonard Nkurunziza, Aphrodis Nyirinkwaya, Joseph Semwaga, Emmanuel Rutayisire and Celestin Habineza.Kenya won the last edition that was hosted in Arusha, Tanzania. Kenya finished with 21 points ahead of hosts Tanzania on 19.5, with Uganda finishing a distant third on 5.5 points. Rwanda was only a half-point behind, on 5, followed by Burundi with 4.5 points.