Rwandan athletes have been urged to plan well for life after their sports careers. The Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee (RNOSC), between September 3-4, held a workshop aimed at empowering athletes to expand their educational and employment opportunities, so that they can transition well into dual careers or life after sports. ALSO READ: Kayumba retires from professional football at 31 Dubbed “Athlete365 Career+,” the workshop was organised under the auspices of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and facilitated by IOC educator Kady Kanouté Tounkara Oly. Over two days, up to 40 Rwandan athletes attended the sessions, where they were equipped with essential skills to prepare for their post-sport lives. In a speech made during the event, Alice Umulinga, President of the Rwanda National Olympic Committee, urged the athletes to shift their mind-set and look beyond their current playing careers. “Don't think that your life or your career is just to be a player who participates in training camps and competitions,” she said. She challenged the athletes to start planning for their post-sport careers now. ALSO READ: Goalie Ndayishimiye announces retirement from professional football “The right time to think about your career transition and post-sport future is now. The IOC places the athlete at the heart of the Olympic Movement, creating numerous opportunities designed specifically for you,” she noted. Experienced basketball player Aristide Mugabe, who previously represented the men's national team, shared how the workshop inspired him and his peers to think about managing their future and careers after retirement. Mignone Uwase, a basketball player from the University of Rwanda, said she hopes to pass on the lessons learned to others in the sports community. ALSO READ: Retired footballers have more to offer off the pitch, says Veteran World Cup Championship founder “We want to change our mind-sets. We should believe that after our playing career, we can do other things and be successful,” she noted Yves Mahoro, an experienced volleyball player from Kepler, highlighted how the workshop not only taught them to plan for life after sports but also emphasised strong values for building their futures. Kanouté encouraged participants to apply what they learned to become better persons both on and off the field.
