The national cricket team will today leave for South Africa to compete in ICC Twenty20 Division 2 tournament scheduled to run from April 15-20 at Willowmoore Park in Benoni, Johannesburg. Rwanda, which is in the same group with Sierra Leone and Mozambique, won the ICC Division 3 tournament in Accra, Ghana in 2011. However, in 2014 Rwanda was demoted back to Division 3 after failing to cope with the standards in Division 2. The 2014 champions Swaziland were however banned over using non-nationals, a development that gave Rwanda another chance to be reinstated in Division 2. The winner in the upcoming tournament will qualify to join the ICC Division 1 which comprises Namibia, Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Botswana and Tanzania. “We are out to win and qualify for the first division,” said the national cricket team head coach, Davis Turinawe. He added, “The team has gone through intensive preparations; we have worked on all areas in batting, bowling and other aspects of the game.” Team manager, Emanuel Byiringiro, said, “Everything is in place for our players to perform, and they have had all the support to help them perform better and we are hoping for the best.” Captain Eric Dusingimana, noted that their sole objective to lift the Rwandan flag high while in South Africa. The 14-player squad: Dusingizimana (captain), Evode Mutuyimana, Orchide Tuyisenge, Eric Niyongabo, Don Dieu Mugisha, Eric Hirwa,Clinton Rubagumya,Bob, Bashir Songa, Zappy Maurice Bimenyimana, Yvan Mitali, Fredy Ndayisenga, Fiston Nsengiyunva and Sruthin Gopi. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
