Rwanda’s team of seven Karatekas at the All Africa Games in Congo-Brazzaville returned home Thursday after being knocked out so early but coach Noel Nkuranyabahizi says he was impressed by their show of character. Nkuranyabahizi told Saturday Sport on Friday that “they brought home no medals but they tried their best.” He said Rehema Kabera, who fought in the under 50kg category first trounced her Congo-Brazzaville rival 3-1 but was eliminated by a Mozambican 0-1 in the next match. In the under 68kg category, Solange Ingabire, the other female on the team, lost 5-6 and 1-3, first to Algeria’s African champion and an Egyptian, in her first and second matches respectively. In the under 60kg category, Jean Paul Shyirambere first trounced a Mozambican opponent 5-1 but later lost 1-8 against a South African. Jean d’Amour Rukundo knocked out a Seychelles opponent 8-0 but lost against an Egyptian, 0-8, in his next match of the under 84 kg category. Christian Rurangayire defeated DR Congo opponent 4-0 but lost 0-3 to Congo-Brazzaville and Algerian rivals 1-5 hence bowing out. Emery Espoir Ntungane, was also eliminated by a South African 2-6 while team captain Vanily Ngarambe, was eliminated by a Congo-Brazzaville fighter 1-7.
