The Basketball Africa League (BAL) is well underway in Kigali. This is Africa’s premier basketball tournament. The continent’s best and most promising talent is on full view and the players are putting on quite a display. All the world’s attention is turned on Rwanda. And the home team, the Patriots, made sure that they enjoyed that attention. They made a winning start with an impressive victory (83-60) over the more fancied Nigeria’s Rivers Hoopers in the opener on May 16th. For the next two weeks, fans can expect to be treated to a very competitive tournament. BAL happening here was hot on the heels of Tour du Rwanda cycling competition whose status was raised. It attracted a higher class of riders from around the world. As a result, the competition was tougher and on a higher level, and unfortunately eclipsed Rwandan riders who had dominated previous editions. The message is clear: they must raise their level. As the basketball players were getting ready to go on court, Africa’s top football administrators led by Confederation of African Football Associations (CAF) president Dr Patrice Motsepe were holding their general meeting in Kigali. In attendance was FIFA president Gianni Infantino and other big wigs in the sport. Football is, of course, a big thing in this country. Some might recall that not so long ago the FIFA regional centre for East Africa was relocated to Rwanda. If anyone had suggested a few years ago that Rwanda would be a key player in the world of sport, they would have been laughed out of this world. The country was little known with hardly any achievements in any field to speak of. In football, club competitions largely confined within the country’s borders, rarely venturing beyond. The national team, Amavubi, had no sting. They were routinely swatted away by other national teams as simply a nuisance. In athletics, you sometimes saw the lone runner in the long distance races, usually close to the rear, making a brave, determined effort, but making no headway to the front. In other sports like volleyball and basketball where Rwandans had some natural advantage, they got little official encouragement. Still, they made valiant efforts. As for hosting a major world sporting event, you’d have to be a dreamer of the wildest sort to imagine it. That has all changed. Today that suggestion would be taken seriously. It is perhaps an indication of how far we have come as a country and the determination to go even further. 980517849619 The country or individual Rwandans may not have won many trophies in international competitions. But they have made recognisable efforts to build sporting facilities and promote sports, and link it to national progress. You cannot, for instance, talk about cycling without mention of Rwanda. Tour du Rwanda, now on the international cycling circuit, immediately comes to mind. Rwandan riders regularly participate in tournaments outside the country and bring back trophies. Mention football and the image that appears is the Visit Rwanda invitation on the sleeves of Arsenal Football club players’ jerseys or on the adverting boards in the Emirates Stadium. The story of football has been one of fits and starts. Amavubi have become a familiar name in African football and even rediscovered their sting, although with little potency most times. The junior ones even participated at the U-17 FIFA World Cup in Mexico in 2011. The country stamped its name as a venue of major events when it hosted the 4th edition of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) in 2016. Talk about basketball and the picture of the magnificent Kigali Arena is the picture you get. Now, of course, there is BAL. The golf folks have expanded the golf course in Kigali from nine holes to eighteen. The upgrade is a reflection of the status of Kigali as a destination of international visitors and the desire to host regional tourneys. In the last two decades or so, new games have been introduced. Not many had heard of cricket, except a few who had gone to elite schools in East Africa. But soon people began to take notice. Some schools took it up. Clubs were born. Men’s and women’s national teams were formed and regularly compete in regional and continental events. Along the way, batsmen broke batting records. And to cap it all, a magnificent stadium was built in Gahanga. Rugby also made an appearance and the national team even had a beautiful name – Silverbacks. They have gone quiet lately, though. It looks like, while the ones after whom they are named are flourishing, the sporting variety are in danger of quick extinction. An SOS to RDB may be needed. The last decade or so have seen Rwanda become a major promoter and contributor to the advancement of sports in the country and beyond. This development reflects the values and character of the nation, as well as its goals and priorities. In sports as in every endeavour, everyone wants to be the best. But no one achieves that by simply wishing it. To excel, they must have ambition and targets, work hard, and remain focussed and disciplined. They must have the confidence and courage to stay the course no matter the difficulties. In this sense, there is a meeting of spirits – of nation and sport. The views expressed in this article are of the writer.
