Olivier Karekezi is one of the best footballers the country has ever produced. Unverified statistics on his Wikipedia page suggest that, with 24 goals, he is the all-time leading scorer in the national football team – Amavubi. Asked where his footballing talent came from, Karekezi, who is remembered for his two successful stints with APR and long international career, simply responded: “It’s a family thing.” “My uncle Kamatari played for SC Kiyovu for a long time,” revealed Karekezi, who – during the peak of his career – was fondly nicknamed ‘Danger Man’ because of his exceptional scoring instinct. Since his retirement in 2013, Karekezi lives in Sweden. It is not uncommon that kids follow in their fathers’ (or close relatives) footsteps, and Karekezi is proof. In local sports industry, which is progressively becoming lucrative, the country has had several athletes in various disciplines who became household names after their parents or direct family members once either professionally or amateurishly shone in. In today’s issue, Saturday Sport takes a look at ten renowned superstars in Rwandan sports whose fathers were also sportsmen. They share how their fathers spired them to stardom up to the national level – and beyond – in their respective disciplines. 1. Joseph Areruya Areruya, the winner of the Tour du Rwanda 2017 and La Tropicale Amissa Bongo 2018, is the reigning African cyclist of the year 2018. Among many ‘firsts’ in his still young – yet very successful career, Areruya is the first and only Rwandan to ride the Paris–Roubaix race. Also known as the ‘Hell of the North’ or ‘Queen of the Classics’, French race Paris–Roubaix is one of the world’s oldest and roughest cycling competitions. Born in January 1996, in Rwamagana, Areruya is a son to Jean Marie Vianney Gahemba, a former amateur cyclist who featured for Team Rwanda (the national cycling team) until 2006 when he retired from the game. Gahemba says that at the age of seven, Areruya would always sneak out his bicycle and start riding it in the neighbourhood streets. This prompted him to help him develop his talent, which he believes will see his son once riding in Tour de France. Areruya’s young brother, Bernabe Gahemba, is also a budding rider and currently represents Rwamagana-based club Les Amis Sportifs cycling. 2. Elie Mutabazi A living legend in Rwandan volleyball, Elie Mutabazi is now the interim coach of APR men’s volleyball team. Besides his illustrious international career, he played and won several titles with APR and UNR (Universite Nationale du Rwanda) volleyball club where he played as a setter. Like his brothers Eric Mutabazi, Jean Claude Mutabazi, Emmanuel Mutabazi, Jean Bosco Bonijuru Mutabazi and Bonny Mutabazi, who all also – at different times – played for the national team, Elie says they all followed in their father’s (Thelesphore Mutabazi) footsteps. Mutabazi senior, who played amateur volleyball for Ndera Volleyball Club, in the second division league, instilled the volleyball passion in his sons by building them a volleyball court at home. “My brothers and I were inspired by our father. He always encouraged us to go watch volleyball games on Sundays. Through volleyball, he taught us that sport is good for physical and mental fitness, and was as well a tool to unite people and build social harmony,” Elie Mutabazi vividly remembers. “He also told us that sports unlock doors to many opportunities.” 3. Djihad Bizimana A nephew to Amavubi skipper Haruna Niyonzima and star forward Muhadjiri Hakizimana, Bizimana currently plays for Waasland-Beveren in Belgian Juliper League. He previously played for Etincelles, Rayon Sports and APR – in that order – in the Rwanda Premier League. Bizimana is a son to Assouman Bizimana who played for topflight league side Marines from 1998 until 2009. Bizimana senior credits his son’s rise to discipline and avoiding drug abuse, which he says is a crisis to youth of his age in their home town Rubavu. “He grew up seeing me playing, and (I believe) that inspired him. His rise from youth through juniors to senior club football was very fast. I always told him that discipline is key and it has really paid off so far,” says Bizimana, the father. “When you love football and work hard, it loves you back,” he added. Bizimana’s other son, Sadjat Niyonkuru, plays as a winger for his old club Marines. 4. Yves Kimenyi Rayon Sports and the national team’s (Amavubi) first choice goalkeeper, Yves Kimenyi, is a son to Rayon Sports and SC Kiyovu legend Dieudonne Hategekimana who played as a defender. Speaking to Saturday Sport, Kimenyi, who joined Rayon from rivals APR in July, admitted that he was inspired into football by his father. “Wherever I pass, people tell me my father was very energetic on the pitch, and that always motivates me to reach his level or even go higher.” “I am a footballer because my father was one. He introduced me to the field.” 5. Latif Bishira The AS Kigali towering defender Latif Bishira is a son to late Abdallah Bishirandora who played for the national team and, Etincelles and Marines at club level. Bishira, 23, says that “even though I didn’t see my father on the field playing, my uncles tell me that my father was a good player and I always strive to step into his shoes.” Abdul Karim ‘Choka’ Nduhirabandi, who coached Marines for 18 years, is an uncle to Bishira. Choka who, like his brother, played for Etincelles, says that Bishira takes his footballing talent from his father’s family. “His father and several of his family members played football, what Bishira did was just to follow that calling. Watching him play reminds me of his father [who was also a defender]. He is calm and disciplined, and he is always the first on the aerial ball, just like his father,” says Nduhirabandi. 6. Maxime Sekamana The quick-fleet forward, who joined Rayon Sports from bitter rivals APR at the end of last season, is a young brother to Amavubi legend Leandre Sekamana, who, at club level, played for and won many trophies – including league titles – with Rayon Sports and APR. Sekamana [Maxime] says his elder brother and he didn’t develop their talent from anyone else but their father Callixte Sekamana who played as an amateur for SOMIRWA (Societe Miniere du Rwanda), which owned Kingogo Sports FC in the 1970s. Callixte Sekamana was also a sports and physical education teacher at Groupe Scolaire Byimana, a secondary school based in Ruhango District. 7. Olivier Murekezi Born to late Raphael Murekezi, commonly known as Fatikaramu, Olivier Murekezi played for UNR Volleyball club and APR Volleyball Club before starting his coaching career at Christ Roi, a secondary school in Nyanza District. The veteran spiker now lives in the United States. Murekezi senior, however, played football – not volleyball like his son – at Rayon Sports and later coached the club. “He would wake us up at 5:00 am to do sports every Sunday before leaving home for church,” Olivier said in an interview with this publication, revealing that his mother was also a basketball player. Olivier’s elder brother, Regis Murekezi, also played for UNR volleyball club. Regis, his sister and both parents were killed during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. 8. Jean Philippe Kubanatubane Currently playing for former champions Espoir Basketball Club, Jean Philippe Kubanatubane, who previously played for IPRC-Kigali, is a son to Jean Lucien Mugabo. During his playing career, Mugabo played for Terror Basketball Club, which was affiliated to the Central Bank of Rwanda (BNR) before switching to Nyamirambo-based Espoir BBC. After his retirement from competitive basketball, Mugabo coached the women’s national basketball team in 2002, and served as the Secretary General of Rwanda Basketball Federation (Ferwaba) between 2002 and 2012. “My father influenced my way to basketball. I can remember the first present he gave me was a basket-ball. Growing up, he gave me freedom to play and he always supported me.” Kubanatubane plays as a point guard at Espoir, and he helped the team to a third-place finish in the BK Basketball National League last season. editor@newtimesrwanda.com
