The second edition of the Rwanda Cricket Awards took place on Sunday at Ubumwe Grand Hotel. The awards ceremony was graced by Oscar Kerketta, the High Commissioner of India to Rwanda, partners, and members of the cricket fraternity of Rwanda. Newly crowned Miss Rwanda, Meghan Nimwiza, and Lillian Iradukunda, Miss Rwanda 2018, also attended the event. Yvan Shema (left) was named most promising cricketer. (Courtesy) The awards were the climax of three days of the World Cup Trophy Tour Arnold Kwizera and Mary Maina were MCs of the night. Speaking at the award ceremony, Eddie Balaba, the Rwanda Cricket Association president, congratulated the winners and thanked everyone for the part they played towards the development of cricket in 2018. “2018 will be permanently etched in Rwanda’s cricket history. We hosted the first ever ICC tournament in Rwanda and, as you all remember, the T20 World Cup qualifier for East Africa in July at the recently opened world class Gahanga Cricket Stadium,” Balaba said Azhar Khoza won the male player of the year while Challengers CC took home the men’s Team of the Year award. The Female Player of the Year award went to Veronique Iriho, who dominated local women’s cricket in 2018. The night however belonged to youngsters from Indatwa Hampshire CC, who took home the female Team of the Year award. The Ndera-based school girls side were rewarded for outstanding performances that saw them upset the dominant ‘big 2’ perennial rivals Charity CC and White Clouds CC. Full list of winners-RCA Cricket Award 2018 Male Player of The Year Division 1 Arzhar Khoza Female Player of The Year Division 1 Veronique Iriho Male Player of The Year Division 2 Pankaj Vekaria Female Player of The Year Division 2 Babyish Diane Ishimwe Coach of The Year Landry Rurangwa Umpire of The Year Christian Gasana Volunteer of The Year Bugingo Byson Team of The Year Male Division 1 Challengers CC Team of The Year Male Division 2 Kutchi Tigers CC Team of The Year Female Division 1 Indatwa Hampshire CC Team of The Year Female Division 2 Sorwathe CC Male Upcoming Player of The Year Shema Yvan Female Upcoming Player of The Year Ishimwe Henriette editorial@newtimes.co.rw
