The 2013 post primary National Boys Schools Cricket week got underway on Saturday with the official opening ceremony and will run through July 31 at two different venues; IPRC Kigali and Kagarma SS Cricket grounds. 

Rwanda Cricket Association (RCA) General Manager Joshua Mwanja, who is also the coordinator of the five-day tournament, confirmed the news on Friday.

According to Mwanja, the Ministry of Education injected Rwf2.5m into  the boys and girls tournaments. The girls tournament will take place in November. 

Other sponsors include Inyange Industries, who have offered 70 cartons of mineral water, ICM Rwanda Agribusiness, who have contributed 400kgs of rice, and The New Times. 

This event will see the best players selected to make up a team to tour Uganda in August. 

"Other than promoting development of the sport locally, the tournament is critical for identifying talent at various competition levels, including the national schools team,” said Mwanja. 

Shears Douglas, ICM Rwanda Agribusiness Managing Director, said: "Our support to the game of cricket is in line with the company’s corporate social responsibility towards sports.” 

Chris Kabalira, the Inyange Industries Marketing Manager, noted that it is important to support younger players, who will make a lasting impact on the game in the future. 

According to the organisers, 10 schools will participate in the schools tournament. 

Among the top cricket playing schools expected to battle for the winners’ trophy include; Kagarama SS (defending champions), G.S Giporoso and Lycee de Ruhango. 

The Schools’ Cricket Week was started in the mid 2000s with the aim of spreading, developing and promoting the sport in schools across Rwanda.