Rwanda boxing national team coach Jean-Claude Gatorano has emphasized the need for more competitions, both local and international, as part of efforts to push the sport to a higher level. Gatorano made the plea in an interview with Weekend Sport on Thursday, a day after his return from Armenia where his boxer Valentin Ntabanganyimana took part in the 2023 IBA Junior World Championships. ALSO READ: Ntabanganyimana loses to Kazakhstan’s Orynbassar on split decision Ntabanganyimana put up a highly spirited performance despite losing to Kazakhstan's Ramazan Orynbassar on split decision in a light bantamweight bout (2-3). Two judges scored in favor of the Rwandan boxer 29-28 and 30-27, while three judges gave the fight to his Kazakhstan opponent 29-28, 29-28 and 29-29. Despite losing his first and only fight on Friday, November 24, the duo remained in the Armenian capital, Yerevan, until returning home in the early hours of Tuesday, December 5. Recounting the experience, Gatorano said, Our trip went well despite my boxer losing (narrowly) his fight. It was a great experience not just for him but even myself. The only negative is that it is very cold but we managed to adapt well. As a coach, all I can say is that we have good boxers, and for anyone, who watched our boy's performance, it showed that our guys are capable. As for me, I have used the days we stayed there (in Armenia) to interact with trainers from other countries and, I must say, I have added a few tips to the knowledge I had already, he noted. He disclosed that, The guys there were impressed with the Valentin's (Ntabangayimana) performance that afterwards he had spurring sessions. We lost our fight but, overall, I am happy that the world now knows that Rwanda has boxing and it's developing. The IBA Junior World Championships was Rwanda's first international outing since competing at the Tanzania's Bingwa Wamabingwa tournament in 2018. That means Rwandan boxers lack the international exposure, which puts them on a disadvantage when they come up to a higher level of competitiveness. Gatorano says, In order for Rwandan boxing to develop further, we need to have more competitions locally, regional and internationally. This way, our boxers will gain more exposure and experience with the more competitions they engage in. But this requires that the ministry of sports increases the support it gives us because, as we have seen with the regional Inter-police championship, boxing has the potential to win medals, pleaded the trainer, who also coaches Club Rafiki-based Intare boxing club in Nyamirambo. Rwanda Amateur Boxing Federation (RABA), led by former national team boxer, Vic Kalisa, has a total of 12 clubs but, like most national sports federations, they are always struggling for funding to sustain their activities. Meanwhile, Kalisa left the country on Thursday evening to Dubai to attend this year's IBA Ordinary Congress, which will take place on Saturday. Up to 180 delegates are expected to be in attendance.
