What does the future hold for Muvunyi?

Rwanda is not a country blessed with a host of world sports champions, but in Hermas Cliff Muvunyi, the country boosts of a world champion albeit in Paralympic athletics. The 24-year old despite the fact that he is the world champion with a gold medal in his rented house, he still leaves like a looser in his own country. Muvunyi worked so hard to put Rwanda on the world map so that it is known for something new, but after a worm welcome home, he still leaves like an ordinary man alongside his aging mother in a Nyamirambo suburb on the outskirts of Kigali City. Asked what he received as reward for his unprecedented achievement as the first Rwandan world champion, Muvunyi said, “I got Rwf4 million in total from the Ministry for Sports and Culture (Rwf3m) and NPC (Rwf1m).” But in all honesty, what is Rwf4m for someone who put his country at the world athletics’ map? Yes it’s good to be down to earth as Muvunyi is, but is there a need to do something for the world champion, who also holds the Paralympic and African record in the men’s 400m T46 category of 49.75 set at last year’s Paralympics Games in London. The handicapped athlete also won gold in 400m and silver medal in 800m during last year’s All Africa Games. However, for all his achievements on the track, what will he show his children after he retires, the medals when they hardly gets two proper meals a day at home or when the landlord wants his money? In this day and era, you tell a common man or young kid that you’re a world champion and you both taking the same public taxi (Twegerana), how will they get motivated to do the same sport which ranks you the world champion yet you have nothing to show? In Uganda last year, Stephen Kiprotich won the Olympic marathon gold medal and President Yoweri Museveni presented him a cheque of sh200m (about Rwf50m) and directed that the money be deposited on his account before the close of business that day. He also pledged to build a three bed room house for his parents, which as you read this has already been completed. Museveni also directed the Ministry of Education and Sports to ensure that Ugandan sports men and women, who win medals at the international level, get financial support from government and also get job placements with government agencies especially the Army, Police, Prisons, Uganda Wildlife Authority as well as Intelligence Serves. In addition to the President’s reward (s), Kiprotich received cash and or other rewards and endorsements from cooperate companies as well individuals for his achievement. He is currently one of the most famous Ugandans and he has something, besides the medal to show his children. The one gold medal changed Kiprotich’s life completely. The day Muvunyi emerged the world champions as the just concluded International Paralympic world championships in France, I thought his life would turn for the better, but I was wrong, as he remains without a job to rely on aside from running. According to the NPC Rwanda president Celestin Nzeyimana, “Muvunyi is his country’s hero, only that in our current state, we (NPC) cannot afford anything big for him, but we would want to make him look like a real icon, who can inspire the young generation, so we can’t let him down.” “Even the Ministry for Sports and Culture does not attach much value to these medals yet the athletes need to be motivated so that they can work even harder and have it mind that the people at home appreciate their sweat,” Nzeyimana said. He revealed that athletes, who brought home medals in the past all African Games and were promised cows but until now they have never received anything. Talking to Muvunyi’s coach Eric Karasire about the future of Rwanda’s first ever world champion, he said, “It’s too early to ask that question,” instead saying, “ask him the question in one month’s time.” But seriously after a month, Muvunyi’s success story would be overtaken by events. Who knows maybe we will be having something else big to talks about. If anything is to be done for our world champion, I think this is the right time to react. The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry for Sports and Culture, Edward Kalisa, when asked about the possibility of helping Muvunyi and or any other successful Rwandan sportsmen and women, his response left so much to be desire. He said, “Yes I agree that these medalists need motivation, but we cannot compare Rwanda to Uganda.”