NPC demands for apology as Muvunyi makes U-turn

Three months after announcing his retirement, Rwanda’s most decorated Paralympian Hermas ‘Cliff’ Muvunyi has dramatically rescinded his retirement decision. The U-turn is a big surprise to the athletics fraternity, especially the National Paralympic Committee (NPC), which wants the athlete to first apologise for what they call unfounded allegations against NPC, which he had cited as the reason for his premature retirement. The 28-year-old Muvunyi announced his retirement in September, drawing the curtains on a glittering nine-year career after failing to win a medal at 2016 Rio Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. His decision left the general public wondering why he had chosen to leave the stage when he could still cut it at the highest level, against the best in the world. Many Rwandans urged the former world champion to give his decision a second thought. And it looks like he has heeded the call 3 months later. Speaking to Times Sport in an exclusive interview on Tuesday, Muvunyi revealed that he has changed his mind after extensive discussions with his family and personal advisers and he will begin training in January next year. “I have actually changed my decision with the help of my family members and personal advisers, I am continuing my career, I am still on a holiday after the Paralympic Games; however, I will begin training in January 2017,” said Muvunyi. Asked if the concerns he attributed for his earlier decision had been fully tackled, Muvunyi sai: “Not really, it was still my decision to change my mind, but I hope to meet officials from NPC because people showed me that they still need me.” At the time of retirement, the Kamonyi-born athlete hinted that he had sacrificed to make his country proud but his effort and desire to achieve greater success had been betrayed by the same people supposed to support him. He did not mention names. In a separate interview, NPC President Celestin Nzeyimana revealed that Muvunyi would only be allowed again to carry the country’s national flag in any competition only if he apologises for the earlier “false allegations” against the committee. “There is no athlete that we have ever given extensive facilitation like Muvunyi; however, it is a pity that he went ahead to say that NPC had betrayed him,” said Nzeyimana He further stressed, “Considering how he insulted the whole committee and the country, he will not carry the flag until he fully apologises.” Muvunyi was introduced to Paralympic competitions in 2011, making his debut at the 2011 All-Africa Games in Maputo where he won gold in the 400 metres and silver in 800m, which qualified him for the 2012 London Paralympic Games. He became the first Rwandan world champion after winning gold in the 800m T-46 at the International Paralympic Committee-Athletics World Championships in Lyon, France in 2013 before winning the 400m gold at the All African Games in Congo-Brazzaville in 2015. He added two more gold medals to his CV winning both the 400 and 800 metres at the 9th IPC Grand Prix de Tunis in March this year. His last gold medal came in the 1500-metre T-46 during the Berlin Open Grand Prix two months July in Germany. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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NPC demands for apology as Muvunyi makes U-turn