Youngster runner James Sugira departs this morning at 9am aboard a RwandaAir flight for a one-year scholarship programme at the IAAF Eldoret High performance center in Kenya.

The development was confirmed yesterday by Rwanda Athletics Federation (RAF) technical director, Jean Pierre Ndacyayisenga.

The 18-year old got the scholarship last year in September, a grant that came after the young runner’s impressive show at the All Africa Youth Games in Botswana and Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China.

"This is a once in lifetime opportunity, I will try using this platform to become the best athlete I have always wanted to be and I know the Eldoret centre is good at producing world class athletes,” Sugira told Saturday Sport in a telephone interview .

He also noted that the scholarship is a big challenge, adding that he will do his best to make the most of the trust bestowed on him by the International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF).

Sugira, a product of Ruhango Athletics Club, registered his personal best of 3:47:28 in 1500m in Nanjing Youth Olympic Games and has a personal best of 8:40:78 in 3000m.

The Kenya-based HPTC Eldoret Centre is located at 2000m above sea level, and specialises in training middle and long distance runners.

Sugira was initially supposed to start his one-year scholarship training in November but his departure was delayed because the facility was under renovation.

The ‘B’ scholarship programme was initiated by IAAF president Lamine Jack.