Ernest Habiyambere. Ernest Habiyambere has been tipped to impress at the ITF Junior African Championships scheduled forMarch 11-21 in Tunis, Tunisia. Team Rwanda departed for Tunisia yesterday aboard Qatar Airways flight and will return onMarch 22, according to local federation officials. Five players will represent the country at the 10-day tournament. The team also includes Fabrice Tuyishime (U-16), Chantal Mutuyimana (U-16), Flavia Kaitesi (U-16) and Evelyn Kwizera, the lonely representative in the U-14 category. All players but Habiyambere will be making their debut at continental championships. The 15-year-old Habiyambere competed at the 2013 ITF African Youth (14 and below) championships in Nairobi, Kenya where he was beaten in the final. The team’s trainer Jean Pierre Nshimiyimana said players are physically and mentally well prepared for the tournament. “We have trained for nearly a month and I believe the kids can put up a good fight. It will be a bit intense for them since they are making their debut in the competition, but they all have got potential to do well,” Nshimiyimana said on Sunday. He however, noted, “I believe Habiyambere has what it takes to win a title in his category because he has been there before and knows how to handle the pressure and he’s a very talented and self-motivated kid.” editorial@newtimes.co.rw
