Cricket: Rwanda U-19 team set for World Cup qualifiers

The national U-19 men’s cricket team on Wednesday morning departed Kigali International Airport for the forthcoming ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup-Africa Division 2 Qualifying round slated for September 30 to October 8 in Abuja, Nigeria. Their participation in the tournament comes just days after their sisters booked a ticket to the inaugural U19 World Cup in South Africa next year after beating Tanzania to finish top of the of the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup Africa qualifier in Botswana a fortnight ago. Leonard Nhamburo’s team set the standard that neither of other national teams achieved before and all eyes are now on the boys who have a mount to climb and make a difference at the tournament if they are to emulate their sisters, something that skipper Ivan Bimenyimana said that they traveled to Nigerian to achieve against all odds. “When we saw them [U19 women team] winning in Botswana, their victory boosted our confidence that we can do it as well and that is all we are going for,” he added. “Given how hard we prepared for the tournament during our training sessions with our coach, we believe a victory is a big possibility within this group. We are going not just to participate but to bring victory home,” he added. Just like their sisters, the Rwanda Cricket Association (RCA) promised to support the young men with anything they think can be a motivation for them to win the qualifier. Should Martin Suji’s side win the World Cup-Africa Division 2 Qualifying round, players will be given new kit bags besides paying school fees for them. “What we want from them is to win in Nigeria and we trust they can do it just like their sisters did. The motivation they want from us including school fees is guaranteed because we have agreed to honor their demands,” said cricket governing body president Stephen Musaale after flagging off the team. Rwanda was pooled in the same Group B alongside tournament hosts Nigeria, Botswana and Sierra Leone. The boys will start the campaign against Nigeria on October 1 and Sierra Leone on October 3 before concluding their group stage fixtures against Botswana on October 5. The top two from the group will progress to the semi-finals slated for October 7 where they will join the top two teams from Group A’s Kenya, Ghana, Malawi and Mozambique. The U19 Men squad to Abuja Yvan Bimenyimana (Captain), Israel Mugisha (Vice-Captain), Eloi Loick Ineza Abimbabazi, Rodrigue Niyomugabo, Yves Cyusa, Francois Zirahangaje, Emmanuel Manishimwe, Eric Uwiduhaye, Elie Niyonshuti, Emmanuel Nsengiyumva, Ibrahim Nshimiyimana, Bertin Mugisha, Chris Yussuf Namuhoranye and Steven Ntwari. Reserves: Alan Mugisha and Regis Muvunyi.

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Cricket: Rwanda U-19 team set for World Cup qualifiers