Ntare Louisenlund School (NLS) in Nyamata, Bugesera District, is expected to contribute significantly to Rwanda’s efforts of using schools as a source of sports talent. Rwanda's new international educational institution inspired by Uganda's Ntare School which counts Presidents Paul Kagame and Yoweri Museveni among its alumni started the process of receiving students and staff applications as it prepares for its opening in September. Located in Bugesera District, Eastern Province, the school is the brainchild of former students of Ntare School in Uganda, united under the banner of the Ntare School Old Boys Association (NSOBA). Just like many regional countries, Rwanda has always used schools as a great nurturer of talent, but some arguments are currently arising that schools were slowly losing that aspect, owing, in part, to infrastructural and equipment constraints. ALSO READ: Ntare school gives prospective students, parents special pre-opening campus tour But there is growing optimism since things are changing, for the better. With its infrastructural capabilities, last month, Ntare school hosted the national football team at its football stadium for training sessions in preparation for the World Cup qualifiers. The school’s sports infrastructure includes modern courts and pitches for games ranging from volleyball and basketball to cricket. If harnessed, the institution can play a role in the country’s sports sector. Charles Kamuru, a university lecturer and Ntare School Old Boys Association (NSOBA) member, pointed out that the institution used to be top in sports in Uganda. “We used to be a sports powerhouse in Uganda, and we have integrated what we had in Uganda, here. We have modern pitches, a swimming pool, and a cricket pitch,” he said. In Rwanda, many sports talents started in schools and went on to do big things in sports. A good example of such schools is Lycee de Kigali, which is the alma-mater for the likes of Emile Kazeneza (currently plays in USA), Bruno Nyamwasa (Patriots), Emmanuel Iyakaremye (formerly played for Espoir and APR), Sifa Joyeuse Ineza and Hope Butera (both play college basketball in the USA), and more. Nathalie Munyampenda, an experienced school administrator and sports woman who is behind the uprising Kepler basketball club and Kepler volleyball teams that are seriously competing in the respective local leagues and are among the serious teams, told The New Times about the potential of schools in regards to raising talents. “As an economic sector, globally, sports gives billions of dollars. If we want to tap into these billions, we need to develop good infrastructure, strong development structures to detect and nurture sports talent and build professional teams that can bring in fans to pay to watch and spend in the country,” she said. Giving an example of Kepler, she pointed out that the school’s administration understands the ecosystem “which rests on developing top talent that play at the highest level who also study to develop themselves.” “We believe we are not just building strong Kepler teams but nurturing the talent for national teams and future leaders of organizations and public office.” Pointing out that schools are the source of talent in sports, the creative arts, business and so on, she said the talent is evident without even support, currently, and thus what is needed is a concerted effort to nurture talents at a young age, fitness training, nutrition, and understanding what it takes, early on. “Schools need infrastructure, skilled coaches in all areas, and leaders who understand the importance of sports to our economy. The first two require sustainable funding and good managers of this funding who leverage partnerships and sponsorships to advance youth sports. That's the bottom line,” she said. “I believe we need to identify schools that focus on certain sports and scout players and take them to those schools on scholarship. Volleyball has schools we know that produce strong volleyball players. Can we help them improve or fund upgrades of their courts and put strong potential athletes there with proper academic and coaching follow up? Same for basketball,” she added. Ntare Louisenlund School aims to be the best school in Africa. With the Rwandan plus-STEM programme, it will bring together the best talents from Rwanda in the fields of mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology and act as a hub for training innovation and entrepreneurship and for shaping the future. The aim of the school is to provide students with an outstanding international education, allowing them to apply for scholarships at the best universities worldwide.
