“Nations have recovered from worse positions.”

Travelling to England amidst the World Cup games is an experience worth noting. On transit at the Jomo Kenyatta Airport, in Kenya, on June 19, a hoard of soccer fans filled the corridors awaiting their flights. The ones that looked the most disappointed were the England fans. The sporty gear and Vuvuzelas wrapped in the national flag colours didn’t change their mood. This is all a new experience from the point of view of the team of eight Rwandan journalists, who in one-in-a-thousand chances are to experience a sensational one week mind-opening tour of England’s biggest Media Houses. Thanks to News International. They got to see The Sun, The Times, News of the World and The Sunday Times in just a span of one week. Interestingly, in terms of World Cup, the games are watched pretty much in the same way as in Rwanda—at the bars, homes, newsrooms and big screens along the streets. Of course Rwanda is not participating in the FIFA World Cup games given its budding nature as a state re-emerging from the consequences of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi; the sports sector is not exceptional- it’s still in its infant steps. Forget the disappointed Britons at the airport, the mood is different when they touch down from Heathrow airport to Central London. England flags are all over the place, a patriotic sign of hope for the 3 Lions down in Africa. Maybe, too much was expected from the 3 Lions, as they were sent flying home after they badly lost against the Germans in a 4-1 defeat. Where wining is the only option; there is no room for complacency. However football being the game that it is, explains why Ghana’s Black Stars packed home after a 4-3 loss against Uruguay after penalty shootouts. They were the only hope for Africa, they represented the continent and would have been the first African team to reach semi-finals in the history of any FIFA World Cup tournament. Football being the game that it is, simply becomes a disappointment, a simple heartbreak. But, that doesn’t stop life from going on. Rwanda has the same approach towards success. There is no room for failure. Practical results that make everyone better people is what matters. That possibly explains the ambitious strategy toward achieving economic development, zero tolerance to corruption, and the daily struggle to shine out of the dark shadow of its past that is so well imprinted in people’s minds, globally. You see, there were countrywide slaughters of over a million people. “Nations have recovered from worse positions.” Terry Venables, England’s Ex Manager is quoted saying. True that is for Rwanda as well. The country is moving on from scratch to becoming the fastest growing economy in Sub-Saharan Africa. Some call it the ‘Singapore of Africa’, others call it the ‘Land of a Thousand Hills’ while others call Rwanda resilient despite its situation. Looks like remaining optimistic counts—positive vibes can bring success, be it, for a country’s football team or a whole nation’s vision for a brighter future. glo.irie@gmail.com