Rwandan teams have put up an outstanding performance at the ongoing All-Africa Games in Brazzaville in the Republic of Congo. Yesterday, Team Rwanda’s Janvier Hadi won a historic gold at the Games following a strong showing by the country’s cycling team, with the women’s beach volleyball side having already bagged bronze. Yesterday’s feat in the 150km race is significant in many ways as was the World Cup title won by the national sitting volleyball side a few years ago. Recent successes in both cycling and volleyball can be attributed to organizational discipline, adequate preparations, constant scouting and nurturing of young talent, among others. These are attributes that are yet to be embraced in other sports fields. The cycling and volleyball federations deserve commendation. By now the other sports federations must have noticed what these two are doing. What they need now is to discard the old way of doing things and learn from their counterparts. Constant squabbles, lack of strategy, failure to attract sponsors and lack of through preparations for competitions are some of the challenges that continue to dog most local sports federations, which if addressed, the country can continue to win big in sports. Now is the time for sports administrations and the Ministry of Sports to take concrete action with view to replicating the level of professionalism and business acumen that have characterised a handful of local federations, like the Rwanda Cycling Federation (FERWACY), in other sports disciplines. Equally, the private sector should take notice of the recent positive trend in the country’s sporting sphere and seize the opportunity to grow their businesses through sponsorships. Azam TV, which recently signed a five-year contract with the Rwanda Football Association (FERWAFA), saw the opportunity and moved to make the most of it. Other corporate companies should consider a similar move. To the Rwandan sportsmen and women that proudly raised the country’s flag high in Brazzaville, we say huge congratulations on your respective feats!
