Gossip: On the grapevine

Jimmy Gatete not on Rwanda’s 26-man squad for Cecafa Rwanda has named the squad that will represent the country at the forthcoming GTV Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup, which will be held in Dar-es Salaam and Arusha, Tanzania from 8th to 22nd December, where 11 countries will be participating under three groups. The Federation of Rwanda Football Associations (Ferwafa) technical team, last Friday named a 26-man squad without the country’s renowned soccer stars: Jimmy Gatete and Mike Yossam. Meanwhile, fans of Amavubi have continued to worry for the absence of the said players in the tournament and mixed feelings from their fellow players have arose, but a justification was recently uttered by Ferwafa bosses that Gatete is suffering from a hip injury which has forced him out of the game, but no realistic reason was given for Yossam. The team is undergoing intensive training, and they will be leaving the country for Tanzania on Thursday (next week).However, some regular players were dropped, while forcing many others off form. According to scouts, some of these dropped players include: Jimmy Gatete (Rayon Sport), Mike Yossam (Rayon Sport), Fredrick Ndaka (Rayon Sport), Jean Lomami (Rayon Sport), Philip Gasana (Rayon Sport), Canisius Nshimiyimana (Mukura), Olivier Nkurikiye (Mukura), Mwemere Girinshuti (APR), Jean Bosco Uwacu (APR), Jean Claude Ndoli (APR) Andre Lomami (Atraco), Theoneste Muhayimana (Atraco) and Egide Rutayisire (AS Kigali). And were replaced by: Atraco striker Abedi Mulenda (APR), Eric Serugaba, Elias Uzamukunda (APR), Ben Mandela (Police) and Jean Shyaka (Atraco). Some players have made debut to the team, including APR midfielder Hegman Ngoma, Roger Tuyisenge, Donatien Tuyisenge, Rodriquez Murengezi and Mukura’s Arafat Serugendo. Off-form APR’s custodian Ramadhan Nkuzingoma has been retained Rwanda’s women cricketers for Nairobi tournament The national women’s cricket team and the U-15s boys’ national team are undergoing final preparations at Kicukiro Oval ahead of region tournaments. The women’s team is set to make its debut appearance at this year’s ICC East African Regional women’s tournament scheduled for Nairobi later this month. The boys’ team, which is due to take place from 8th to 12th December, has been scheduled to compete at an U-15 boys’ regional cricket tournament that has been organised by ICC, the global cricket governing body. At these competitions, Rwanda will contend with the likes of Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. Unlike in the boys’ tournament, the President of the criket game in Rwanda, Charles Haba says the women’s turnamnent is open to all women and has no age limit. MTN investing more in mobile industry Latest on grapevine is, the MTN Group has recently concluded an agreement to increase its shareholding and interest in MTN Rwanda from 40% to 55%. However, it is said, for the purchase of the stake from Tristar Investments SARL, who will remain as a significant 35% shareholder after the transaction, are likely to be effected through MTN’s wholly-owned subsidiary, MTN International (Mauritius) limited. MTN was awarded a national GSM license in Rwanda in April 1998, and immediately launched MTN’s expansion on the continent. Since then, MTN Rwanda has performed well, reporting 576 000 subscribers for the quarter ended 30 September 2007, up 18% from 486 000 subscribers the previous quarter. According to scouts, the MTN Group President and CEO, Phuthuma Nhleko was over heard saying, the acquisition demonstrates MTN’s confidence in the Rwandan economy has enabled them to resolve their consolidation to position in the region. “We are pleased that this transaction has the endorsement of all shareholders,” Nhleko. MTN Rwanda continues to invest in infrastructure and world-class products and services in the country. And it is apparent that, new investments including a 3G network will soon be piloted in the capital city, Kigali. Recently, MTN Rwanda launched its seamless roaming services with MTN Uganda, Safaricom in Kenya and Vodacom in Tanzania. Seamless roaming allows subscribers free roaming between the four networks. The operation has also rolled out fibre optic backbone infrastructure within Kigali up to the border of Uganda. WiMax, which has been rolled out in Kigali, is also being implemented in 12 towns across the country. Ends