Sports Minister Nelly Mukazayire has urged young athletes to believe in their talent and get ready to make some sacrifice to become the athletes they dream of. Mukazayire made the remarks during the closing of the 4th edition of the AFD-Isonga training camp, held at Groupe Scolaire Officiel de Butare (GSOB) in Huye District, on Saturday, August 9. The two-week camp marked the end of Phase One of the programme and brought together 569 promising student-athletes (208 girls and 361 boys) aged between 11 and 18, including newly selected U16 athletes from national competitions. Mukazayire reminded participants that being an athlete is not only about winning, but also about teamwork, making tough decisions, and being patient. “Trusting in yourself doesn’t make you complacent, it’s courage that elevates your talent to the next level. As the ministry and other stakeholders, we are here to support you,” she said. The Isonga Program, launched in 2021 after the COVID-19 pandemic, began with 599 student-athletes (252 girls and 347 boys) from 17 schools across six sports disciplines: football, volleyball, basketball, handball, athletics, and cycling. ALSO READ: Rwanda-Bayern Munich deal to focus on talent development Phase two of the program, set to begin in September, aims to expand to 42 schools reaching every district in the country. It will introduce inclusive sports such as sitting volleyball and goalball, increasing the number of disciplines to eight. The expansion is also expected to benefit 2,727 young athletes, according to Dr. Clairon Niyonsenga, the Isonga-AFD programme project manager. “I’m very excited for this opportunity. We’ve learned so many skills from our coaches. My dream is to become the best female cyclist,” said 14-year-old Joyce Cynthia Umwamikazi, who currently rides for Benediction Cycling Club. Top performers from the camp will be shortlisted to represent Rwanda at the 2026 Dakar Youth Olympic Games. Their journey will continue during the upcoming National Sports Talent Week, scheduled for December 2025.
