African Volleyball governing body (CAVB) has chosen Rwanda to host the 2013 Africa Volleyball Congress slated for December 7-8 at the Kigali Serena Hotel.

According to the national Volleyball Federation Secretary General, Christian Hatumimana, Rwanda was picked ahead of Cote d’Ivoire and Democratic Republic of Congo, who had also shown interest in hosting the two-day meeting.

He said, “They (CAVB delegation) came here to assess our facilities and see if we are capable after which they made the decision, we are proud to host such an important congress on top of hosting the Subzone and Zone V qualifying tournaments.”

“We believe that this is another opportunity for Rwanda to prove that we are more than capable of hosting international events,” said the former APR volleyball club player.

He said the Organising Committee will arrive in the country on December 5 and the other delegations will be in Kigali the next day for the event, which brings together the sport’s top governing officials from all African federations.

It will be four days after the conclusion of the Zone V Qualifiers.  Meanwhile, FRVB continue the preparations of hosting the Zone V World Championship Qualifiers, slated for November 25 to December 1. The tournament will attract five countries including Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, African giants Egypt and the hosts, Rwanda.

By Peter Kamasa,The New Times

Jeshi Stars put their campaign to regain the Nyerere Memorial Volleyball Cup on track after entering into the semifinal without losing a game.

At the tournament that will come to an end at the National Indoor Stadium in Dar es Salaam today, saw Jeshi complete their Group B match at the top of table on 8 points from four matches.

They completed their preliminary campaign with a resounding 3-1 win against Mzinga of Morogoro yesterday to add from 3-2 sets win against Gawasco of Mombasa in a thrilling opening match on Tuesday. They also beat Omuwasco also from Mombasa and Kijichi of Dar es Salaam 3-0 each.

They were in action late yesterday evening against Group A runners up Magereza of Tanzania in the semi-final. In another yesterday group B match Kijichi recorded their first victory in the tournament with a 3-1 sets victory against Omuwasco.

The visitor started the game impressively to take the opening set but Kijichi came back strong to take three straight sets to ensure that they at least leave the tournament with two points and settled in the third place, while Omuwasco finished in the bottom without a point.

In the Group A, defending champion Prisons of Mombasa finished top of the group to escape a date against tough contender Jeshi Starts. Mombasa Prisons who have also not lost a single group match were in action against their country man Gawasco, who finished second in Group B in another semifinal yesterday evening.

Jeshi Stars coach Lameck Mashindano recently said that they do not fear any team bragging that his charges will definitely be crowned champions this year and bring back 2011 memory when they last lifted the title.

Tournament coordinator Silaju Mwasha said that only two women teams are competing in the tournament –Jeshi Stars and Magereza after Mombasa’s Bokole failed to meet tournament criteria and left the country while nine men’s team are competing.

Source Tanzania Daily News

This year’s Tour du Rwanda cycling race which starts tomorrow will cost an estimated Rwf372 million, the organisers, Rwanda Cycling Federation has confirmed.

Aimable Bayingana.

The federation chairman, Aimable Bayingana, while addressing a press conference on Thursday, said the eight-day competition promises to be better than previous editions.

“We have a good budget to work with, and we hope with more money injected, even the standards will improve,” he said. “The good thing is that we have got sponsors, so we expect everything to be fine.”

A total of 15 teams will compete for the top prize. Rwanda will be represented by Team Akagera, Team Kalisimbi and Team Muhabura with each fielding five riders.

Some of the foreign teams  already in the country to take part in this year’s Tour du Rwanda include; As Be Co of Eritrea, Avia Crabbe (Belgium), Team Haute Savoie (France) and South Africa’s MTN Qhubeka, which features homeboy Adrien Niyonshuti.

Others are; UCI Continental Centre (South Africa), Ethiopia, Egypt, Kenya, Algeria, Gabon, while Tanzania are expected in to arrive today.

Team USA Novo Nordisk, which used to participate as Team Type 1, were the first to arrive for the continental race on Wednesday.  The tour will cover 876 kilometres divided in eight stages.

By Peter Kamasa,The New Times

The Zanzibar government is out to mark its 50th anniversary in style, with various sporting activities lined up to colour the event.

Speaking in Dar es Salaam yesterday, Minister for Information, Culture, Tourism and Sports of Zanzibar, Saidi Ally Mbarouk said that the sporting activities will start on January 2 to 14, next year. He mentioned some of the sports disciplines lined up to colour the anniversary as football, netball, beach volleyball, table tennis, handball and hockey.

Others are Badminton, fitness, Special Olympics, squash and other games for people with physical disabilities. He said the annual Mapinduzi football Cup will attract top local and regional teams, saying further that efforts were made to invite teams from China and Vietnam, which he said are yet to confirm their participation.

“We expect top clubs to compete for top honour in the event,” he said naming clubs such as Simba, Yanga, Mbeya City, Pemba Combine and others from outside the country including Uganda’s Kampala City Council (KCC) and Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), Kenya’s Tusker and Gor Mahia as among teams expected to battle it out in the championships.

He said Zanzibar President Ali Mohamed Shein will grace the closing ceremony on January 14 at the Amman Stadium. Mbaruok said that preparations for the championships were well underway, where Revolutionary Committee has been formed and tasked to ensure smooth organisation of the event.

By FATMA ABDU, Tanzania Daily News

Kenya Prisons underlined their status as volleyball queens after they won the national league play-offs at Africa Nazarene University.

Prisons’ Bracksides Agala and Loice Tarus reach for the ball during their Alpha II Plus tournament finals against Pipeline in Nyeri mid this year.

Prisons defeated arch-rivals Pipeline 3-0 (25-14, 25-18, 25-18) to win their fifth title.

Pipeline went into the match with a lot of confidence as they had not lost to Prisons this season.

But Prisons coach David Lung’aho had other ideas.

Successful attack by Everline Makuto and double blocks by Diana Khisa and Bracksides Agala handed Prisons first two points of the game.

Prisons with good combination by libero Elizabeth Nafula, setter Jane Wacu, Everline Makuto and Bracksides Khadambi scored three successive points to bring scores to 5-1.

Pipeline got their first points when Noel Murambi’s attack penetrated Prisons defense with precision.

Dominate proceedings

Prisons dominated the proceedings to take 8-4 lead at first technical time out.

Prisons would then race to 16-13 lead at the second technical time out before cruising to impressive 25-18 victory.

Pipeline gave away easy points in opening set as they hit net at least three times.

The opening minutes of the second set were closely contested but Prisons played well to take 8-5 lead at first technical time out.

Prisons would then extend their lead to 13-9 before extending the gap to 16-9 at second technical time out.

Pipeline tried to come back into game with Esther Wangeci, Jepleting, Murambi attacking ferociously but Prisons held on to take the set 25-18.

Pipeline started third set with purpose as they gained three quick points.

Prisons recovered to take 8-6 and 16-11 advantage at technical time out before cruising to 25-18 victory.

Lung’aho opted to play Khadambi on  right and the strategy worked well.

Lung’aho said: “Playing Khadambi on the right was our secret weapon.”

Forest Rangers men’s team  impressed by beating Defence Forces 3-1 (24-26, 25-14, 25-20, 25-23) to bag bronze.

Nairobi Water queens clinched bronze after defeating Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) 3-2 (25-20, 25-23, 21-25, 16-25, 16-14) in a five-setter thriller lasting two hours 24 minutes.

Nairobi Water coach John Mwaniki said, “Our target was to finish inside medal brackets, I’m happy we have achieved that.”

By OSCAR PILIPILI, The Standard

Seventy anglers participated in a two-day 2013 Tanga Open Fishing Competition held here over the weekend to display their fishing talents in the Indian Ocean under the sponsorship of Tanga Cement Company Limited (TCCL).

The participants in this year’s event nicknamed ‘Lady Diana 3’ were in 13 teams with four to six anglers each, but ladies were in one boat only.

The Tanga Cement Managing Director, Reinhardt Swart, said the company was proud to be the main sponsor of one of Tanga region’s social events that attracted Tanga business community, employees of TCCL and other individuals for the fourth time. He said the participants were from Moshi, Dar es Salaam and hosts Tanga.

Five of the 13 boats were for TCCL employees sponsored by the company for US$4,410. “This time around we are lucky to have only one ladies’ boat. I believe they will show their fishing talents and add value to this event that has been organised by Tanga Yacht Club,” he said.

One of the participants, Asif Ganijee from Tanga, who got nothing in the first day of the event, complained that the event has turned to be tougher than the previous ones because of water pollution caused by illegal fishing.

“I am in the fishing industry for more than 10 years but illegal fishing by using gunpowder has worsened things,” he said.

“Gunpowder destroys fish laying areas like corals and if no serious measures are taken, the whole Tanga coastline will have no fish,” he said. He said they have reported the matter to the authorities but in vain.

The event was expected to end yesterday evening with the winners and other participants getting awards and fishing gear. The TCCL total sponsorship of this event, including attires, was 9.2m/-.

Other sports events that the TCCL has sponsored this year include the ITF/CAT Junior championship that took place in January this year at the Dar es Salaam Gymkhana Club and the Kilimanjaro Marathon in Moshi in March.

Source Tanzania Daily News

Tanzania national women’s hockey team today make their maiden appearance in the Africa Hockey Cup of Nations by facing Ghana at the City Park Stadium in Nairobi, Kenya.

According to the tournament’s draw availed to the ‘Daily News’ yesterday, four women’s teams will compete for the continental top honour. Other women’s teams include defending champion South Africa and hosts Kenya.

Nigeria and Namibia, who had earlier confirmed their participation before the Africa Hockey Federation (AHF), called off the championships following a deadly terrorist attack at Westgate shopping mall in the Kenyan capital, have opted out.

The Westgate attack cost 65 people’s lives and hundreds others were injured and AHF studied Nairobi’s safety before setting a new date. Tanzania has fielded only the ladies team after failing to send the men’s squad due to financial constrains. Egypt has also sent only a men’s team which will battle it out against Kenya, South Africa and Ghana.

The Tanzanians are lucky to miss defending champion South Africa in the opening match, but they need to show character against 2011 runners-up Ghana. The ladies will have to resist hosts Kenya in their second match on Tuesday before taking on South Africa on November 21. All the countries shall play on round robin and shall determine the ranking in orderly manner.

The week-long tournament reaches its climax on November 23. Tanzania Hockey Association (THA) secretary Kaushik Doshi said yesterday the team under national coach, Italian Valentina Quaranta and her assistant Mnonda Magani are in good condition. They arrive in Nairobi on Thursday for acclimatisation and to get used to the City Park Stadium’s modern turf ground.

“The team is in good shape and all the players are looking forward to performing well. This is the first time we’re taking part in the tournament and coaches Quaranta and Mnonda have vowed do their best against all the strong contenders,” he said. All the participating countries are regular participants in various tournaments being organised by AHF, although this one is an Olympic qualifier.

Winners of the Africa Cup men’s and women’s titles will qualify as the continent’s representatives at the 2014 Hockey World Cup. The showpiece is set for May 31 to June 15, next year in The Hague, Netherlands. The SA teams are the reigning African champions, having won the last tournament in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe in September 2011.

By MBONILE BURTON, Tanzania Daily News

Team Rwanda and Karisimbi’s rising star Janvier Hadi won stage one of 2013 Tour of Rwanda on Sunday in Prologue from Amahoro-Kimironko-Amahoro (3.5km) after clocking 4’05’’.

Janvier Hadi shows his delight after winning the Yellow Jersey in stage one of 2013 Tour of Rwanda. Right is the Sports ministry’s PS Edward Kalisa. Times Sport / T. Kisambira.

The 22-year old starts today’s stage two, Kigali-Kirehe (129.9km) wearing the Yellow Jersey. He received US$630 (around Rwf0.43m) for winning stage one and US$300 (about Rwf0.2m) for wining the Prologue.

The 2013 Tour of Rwanda got off to an amazing stage with huge crowds turning up to cheer the 15 home riders representing three teams;  Karisimbi, Akagera and Muhabura.

Hadi finished three seconds ahead of Frenchman Nicolas Lefrançois of Team Novo Nordisk Development to become the second Rwandan to win a stage in the Tour of Rwanda after Joseph Biziyaremeye in 2012.

South African Louis Meintjes of Team MTN-Qhubeka came in third place.

After the win Hadi said, “It’s my first major victory with the national team and I am really delighted about it. This win is a result of hard work in training with Jock Boyer (Team Rwanda head coach).”

Team Akagera rider Valens Ndayisenga was the second Rwandan highest finisher in 15th position after he clocked 4’17’’25. The best team Green Jersey was won by MTN-Qhubeka of South Africa which features Rwandan Adrien Niyonshuti.

Team Karisimbi’s Bonaventure Uwizeyimana finished in 20th position in a time of 4’20’’48, Team Akagera’s Hassan Rukundo came in 22nd position with a time of 4’21’29, while Team Karisimbi skipper Nathan Byukusenge finished in 24th after clocking 4’22’’79.

Adrien Niyonshuti came in 35th position with the time of 4’24’’09 behind two other Rwandan riders Patrick Byukusenge (33) and Joseph Biziyaremye (34).

Serious business starts today when the riders set off from Nyabugogo in Kigali to Kirehe District. They will cover 129.9 kilometres. On Tuesday, the riders will compete from Rwamagana to Musanze which has a distance of 151.5km.

By Peter Kamasa,The New Times

Celebrated kick boxer Moses Golola exhibited a lukewarm show for his fans and the entire crowd in a controversial win to claim the vacant Intercontinental Low Kick Middleweight title on Monday morning.

Moses Golola

Golola did little to escape the assault from Romanian Poczo Zoltan through the five rounds in the low kick contest and resorted to holding on to his opponent for safety.

Zoltan was floored while trading kicks with Golola in the fourth round before motor mouthed fighter himself was floored soon after another exchange.

This was at Natete Shopping Center where the much hyped fight was watched by thousands of fans who filled the venue.

The fight was almost a replica of the 2011 fracas when Golola fought the late Andras Nagy where the results were reversed before the World Kickboxing Federation president made a late correction but Golola emerged winner.

This time center referee, Charles Blick Mugoya first raised the arm of Zoltan as the winner after ring announcer Meddie Nsereko apparently mixed up the results.

The three judges scored 49-50, 50-45 and 47-49 in favour of Zoltan but bizarrely, Golola was declared the winner by 2-1 for having the most judges scoring in his favour.

The announcer then declared Golola who was in the red corner the winner to leave Zoltan and his team in utter disbelief.

Match supervisor, Graham Rossman said the referee’s decision was final, in a bid to diffuse tensions among the disapproving crowd.

“I thank my fans for the support. I told you I shall win the title and you have all witnessed,” said Golola after getting the belt.

“I know I have been cheated but it is okay,” a disappointed Zoltan commented after the fight.

A Uganda Kickboxing Federation official who preferred anonymity added a new twist to matters when he said the fight ended in a draw despite what was read from the judges’ scorecards.

“The fight ended in a draw but Zoltan was penalized two points for foul play. He used his knee which is against the rules” he said.

“Golola shall never improve in the sport apart from advocacy if he wins in controversial decisions like this. He cannot go out and win,” commented some fans.

But under card fights were a thriller where Sharif Bukenya (aka General) stopped Paineto Mwesigwa in the 4th round. Jackie Nassimbwa put up a spirited resistance against experienced Patricia Apolot but it wasn’t enough to deny Apolot who won the national championship.

Kickboxing Intercontinental title fight

Moses Golola 146   Poczo Zoltan 144

National Title (Women)

Patricia Apolot bt Jackie Nassimbwa (points)

Undercard fights

Sharif Bukenya ‘Gen’ bt Paineto Mwesigwa (K.O 4th round)

Ismail Mutebi bt Budigo Mohammed (points)

Umar Muswiba bt Yuda Makubuya (points)

Locus Serugunda bt Emma Kamadu (points)

By Silvano Kibuuka, The New Vision

Senior Volleyball national team skipper Christophe Mukunzi is optimistic of the home side’s chances  ahead of FIVB Zone V World Championships due November 25 to December 1 at the Amahoro indoor stadium in Kigali.

The experienced right attacker, who plies his trade with Algerian first division side El Fanar, is confident Rwanda will make the most of home advantage to qualify for the third and final qualifying round due early next year.

The skipper joined his teammates in residential training camp last week and believes the team has the potential and ability to win the five-nation tournament. “We feel we are ready for the zonal championships,” he told Times Sport on Saturday.

“The team has had enough preparations. Although personally I only arrived last week, there has been great improvement all round and I think we just need to be focused and not assume that we can simply turn up and win games because we’re playing at home; nonetheless, we need to believe in our ability,” he said.

The Zone V Qualifiers tournament will attract five countries, including Burundi, Egypt, Kenya, Uganda and hosts Rwanda.

One team will join Egypt in the continental final qualifying round.

The final round will decide the top three teams that will represent Africa at the 2014 FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championships to be held in Poland.

By Peter Kamasa,The New Times

South Africa’s Team MTN-Qhubeka rider Jay Robert Thomson won stage one of the 2013 Tour of Rwanda yesterday after clocking 3hrs 12 minutes and two seconds from Kigal to Kirehe (129.9km).

Jay Robert Thomson

As a result, he took the Yellow Jersey from Team Rwanda and Karisimbi rider Janvier Hadi, who won Sunday’s Prologue. Hadi came in a distant eighth, behind yesterday’s stage winner by one minute and 31 seconds. Overall, he dropped to seventh spot.

Thomson, the 2013 National Champion of South Africa, held the Leader Jersey and will wear it in today’s stage from Rwamagna to Musanze (151.5km).

Thomson, a teammate of Rwanda’s Adrien Niyonshuti, also took the General Classification leadership for using a total of 3hrs 16 minutes and 15 seconds after two stages, while Hadi is in seventh position with 3hrs 12 minutes and two seconds.

Hadi’s hope of retaining the Yellow Jersey was dealt a major blow when he had an accident in Ngoma District, at a time when he was in a leading group of about 13 riders. Although he managed to quickly get back on his bike, he had already lost ground and could only manage to finish in the eighth position.

The 22-year old got the White Jersey for being the best Rwandan competitor. Eritrea’s Team AS Be Co rider Eyob Metkel wears Black Jersey as the best climber. The best team’s Green Jersey went to MTN-Qhubeka, which features Niyonshuti, who is in the 20th position with time of 3h 18’ 05’’.  The 26-year old finished in ninth position in the second stage in a time of 3h13’41’’. Team Rwanda’s Muhabura rider Patrick Byukusenge came in 26th in 3hrs 18 minutes and 32 seconds, Jean Bosco Nsengiyumva (Karisimbi) finished in 28th position after clocking 3h18’’40’’’, while Karisimbi captain Nathan Byukusenge came in 31st in a time of 3h18’’18’’’ 51.

In 33rd position was Team Rwanda’s Akagera rider Valens Ndayisaba (3h19’54’’), while teammate his Hassan Rukundo came in 36th position after clocking 3h19’58’’.

Akagera’s Emile Bintunimana came in 39th place (3h 20’04’’), Abraham Ruhumuriza of Karisimbi was in 42nd in 3h 21’41, while Akagera’s Hategeka Gasore was in 43rd position after clocking 3h 21’04.

Stage one results
1.     Th. J. Robert 3 hours 12 mins 2 secs          2.     E. Metkel3h12’’09’’’
3.     M. Jes Louis 3h 12’ 11’’
4.     J. Njoroge 3h 12’ 11’’
8.     J. Hadi 3h 13’ 41’
9.     A. Niyonshuti 3h 13’ 41’
10.     J. Biziyaremye 3h 13’ 41’

General Classification
1.     Th. Jay Robert 3h 15’’
2.     Meintn Jes Louis 3h16’17’’02’’’
3.     G. Dylan 3h21’’15’’’
4.     E. Metkel 3h16’’25’’’
5.     J. Njoroge 3h16’’32’’’
7.     J. Hadi 3h17’’46’’’
20.     A. Niyonshuti 3h18’’05’’’

Other Rwandans
19.     J. Biziyaremye 3h18’’04’’’
26.     P. Byukusenge 3h18’’32’’’
28.     J. B. Nsengiyumva 3h18’’40’’’
31.     N. Byukusenge 3h18’’18’’’ 51
33.     V. Ndayisaba 3h19’54’’
36.     H. Rukundo 3h19’58’’
39.     E. Bintunimana 3h 20’04’’
42.     A. Ruhumuriza 3h 21’41
43.     H. Gasore 3h 21’04

By Peter Kamasa,The New Times

Team Rwanda’s 19-year old Valens Ndayisenga became the youngest Rwandan rider to win any stage in Tour of Rwanda after he dramatically claimed stage two (Rwamagana-Musanze) race in 4 hours six minutes and 44 seconds, yesterday.

Ndayisenga pops the champagne upon winning the Second Stage of the 2013 Tour of Rwanda in Musanze yesterday. Applauding him is the president of Rwanda Cycling Federation Aimable Bayingana. Inset, Ndayisenga crosses the finish line ahead of compatriot and Karisimbi teammate Ruhumuriza. The New Times/P. Kamasa.

Ndayisenga, a debutant in Tour of Rwanda, beat off stiff competition from compatriot and Karisimbi teammate Abraham Ruhumuriza and South Africa’s Team MTN-Qhubeka rider Jay Robert Thomson, who had won stage one from Kigali-Kirehe on Monday. Ruhumuriza and Thomson came in second and third, respectively, in 4h06’44’’and 4h06’58’’ respectively.

Yesterday’s stage, a distance of 151.9km, was the most gruelling of this year’s Tour of Rwanda legs.

It is the biggest win of the youngster in his career.

Ndayisenga goes into Wednesday’s stage three, Rubavu-Kinigi (69.4km) wearing the Red Jersey reserved for a stage winner.

The sterling performance confirmed Ndayisenga as one of the brightest prospects not only for Rwanda’s cycling but the African continent as well, according to some cycling enthusiasts.

The second leg victory was even more significant for Team Rwanda, having been sealed in the northern city of Musanze, the base of Rwanda’s cycling stars for the last seven years.

Ndayisenga was in the leading group of 14 riders going into the last moments when he and Ruhumuriza peeled away to take a memorable one-two for Rwanda.

But Team MTN-Qhubeka’s Thomson retained the Yellow Jersey.

Yesterday’s stage is the longest in the 2013 Tour of Rwanda.

Yet Ndayisenga was modest in his win. “I am really happy, it’s like a dream come true. I am happy for my teammates too because we work as a team, we have managed to achieve what we planned last night.”

Team Rwanda and Akagera’s Janvier Hadi, who won Monday’s prologue, came in sixth position yesterday. He is in sixth spot in the general classification and has the White Jersey as the best Rwandan rider in the Tour of Rwanda 2013 so far.

By Peter Kamasa, The New Times

Kenya’s Joseph Njoroge finished fifth in general classification after the opening day of the Tour of Rwanda cycling race, one of the biggest in Africa. Njoroge took fourth place on the opening special stage, just nine seconds behind winner Jay Robert Thomson, who sprinted to the finish in 3hrs 12minutes and 2 seconds. Njoroge was 3:12:11.

At the end of the day, Njoroge lay fifth in general classification as Thomson grabbed the Yellow Jersey in 3:15 with Njoroge 3:16:32.

The Kenya team to the Tour of Rwanda had earlier been kitted and wished well by Chris Froome, the Kenya-born Tour de France winner who is visiting the country. The South Africa’s Team MTN-Qhubeka rider Thomson won the first stage on Monday— Kigali to Kirehe (129.9km). As a result, he took the Yellow Jersey from Team Rwanda and Karisimbi rider Janvier Hadi, who won Sunday’s Prologue. Hadi came in a distant eighth, behind yesterday’s stage winner by one minute and 31 seconds. Overall, he dropped to seventh spot.

Thomson, the 2013 national champion of South Africa, held the Leader Jersey. Thomson, a teammate of Rwanda’s Adrien Niyonshuti, also took the General Classification leadership for using a total of 3hrs 16 minutes and 15 seconds after two stages, while Hadi is in seventh position with 3hrs 12 minutes and two seconds.

Hadi’s hope of retaining the Yellow Jersey was dealt a major blow when he had an accident in Ngoma District, at a time when he was in a leading group of about 13 riders. Although he managed to quickly get back on his bike, he had already lost ground and could only manage to finish in the eighth position.

By Chris Mbaisi, The Star

Jay Robert Thomson, who was until yesterday the overall leader of Tour of Rwanda 2013, has pulled out of the race.

Louis Jes Meintjes (L) celebrates as he crosses the finish line ahead of his countryman Dylan Girdlestone yesterday. The New Times/File

The South African, a member of Team MTN-Qhubekha, withdrew from the competition just 11 kilometres into the third leg due to illness.

His compatriot and club teammate Louis Meintjes seized the opportunity to win the 69.4km Rubavu-Kinigi stretch (Third Stage) in one hour 52 minutes and 54 seconds.

The 21-year old also moved from the second overall best to the number one spot in the international race, effectively taking the Yellow Jersey from Thomson.

Meintjes came eight seconds ahead of Eritrean Metkel Eyob, with South Africa national team rider Dylan Girdlestone in third place, 16 seconds behind.

Team Karisimbi’s Jean Bosco Nsengiyumva was the best Rwandan performer of the stage, coming in the eighth position after clocking 1h 53’ 09’’.

Thomson, 27, admitted he had to listen to his body, which he said wasn’t responding well to the demands of the race.

“I don’t feel good; I wanted to continue but my body wasn’t responding well so I have to pull out, I am disappointed,” said Thomson, teammate of Rwandan Adrien Niyonshuti at Team MTN-Qhubeka.

On Tuesday, Rwandans claimed two top spots in the second leg (Kayonza-Musanze), with 19-year old Valens Ndayisenga of Team Akagera introducing himself to global cycling enthusiasts in fashion, after winning the 151.9-kilometre Stage Two in four hours six minutes and 44 seconds.

He was followed by compatriot and Akagera rider Abraham Ruhumuriza (4h06’44’’).

Overall, Nsengiyumva is the highest ranked Rwandan in the race (general classification) going into today’s fourth leg – in sixth position, with a time of 19h19’38’’.

He has the White Jersey as the leading Rwandan rider in the Tour.

Ndayisenga, who became the youngest Rwandan rider to win any stage in Tour of Rwanda’s history on Tuesday, came in 15th place in a pack of 64 riders yesterday, in a time of 1h53’57’.

His teammate Janvier Hadi, who won Sunday’s Prologue, finished 23rd yesterday after crossing the line in 1h54’29” to drop three places to ninth position in the general classification with a time of 9h19’36’’.

Today, the riders embark on 128km Musanze-Muhanga leg.

By Peter Kamasa,The New Times

National volleyball men’s team received a major boost after Turkey-based left attacker Micheal Chemos joined the team yesterday ahead of the World Championship Zonal ‘H’ second round Qualifiers set for next week in Kigali, Rwanda.

Micheal Chemos

The national team boast of 3 professional players whose expertise will come in handy as they seek to book the two slots to the final qualifiers early next year.

James Ontere, who plays professional in Cyprus has already linked up with the team while Phillip Maiyo who plies his trade in Turkey and will join Gideon Chenje’s side in Rwanda.

Commenting on the development, the team captain Ibrahim Oduori acknowledged that the arrival of the three players will no doubt lift the team’s performance and spirit to another level. Kenya are up against the hosts Rwanda, Egypt, Uganda, Burundi and Kenya.

“The three players brings with them exposure and experience that will be key to propelling the national team to success in the 7-day event,” said coach Chenje.

During the first qualifiers staged in Kampala, the home side finished top of the table ahead of hosts Uganda while Burundi came in third with Tanzania last. The national team lock horns with Egypt in their first match of the event on November 26 before squaring it out with Rwanda a day later. Chenje said the players are ready for the prestigious event.

“Most of these players have participated in the just ended Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) national league finals which in some way acts as a build-up. But I must say morale in training is overwhelming,” said Chenje, who also doubles up as Prisons’ Club men’s team coach.

He said he believes Maiyo will still gel with the team despite linking with them late in Rwanda. “Every time Maiyo is in the country, he trains with General Service Unit and I believe being a professional player, he will not take long to gel with the other players,”

“We will leave for Rwanda on Saturday and since the event starts on Monday, Maiyo has enough time to play catch-up.”

Chenje led the national team to third place during the 2011 All Africa Games in Mozambique. He said their main goal is to finish among the top two teams in the Rwanda event. The coach admitted said they are yet to play Egypt and admitted that the Pharaohs will no doubt pose a tall order.

By AGNES MAKHANDIA, The Star

Rwanda volleyball senior national team coach Paul Bitok has named the final 12-man team ahead of FIVB Zone V World Championships due November 25 to December 1 at the Amahoro indoor stadium in Kigali.

The Zone V Qualifiers tournament will attract five countries, including Burundi, Egypt, Kenya, Uganda and hosts Rwanda. Two teams will join Egypt in the continental final qualifying round

Bitok is confident Rwanda will make the most of home advantage to qualify for the third and final qualifying round due early next year. The team is currently undergoing intensive training at Amahoro stadium.

The final round will decide the top three teams that will represent Africa at the 2014 FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championships to be held in Poland.

Full team:

Christophe Gasarasi Mukunzi (captain), Yakan Guma Lawrence (assistant captain), Flavien Ndamukunda, Aimable Mutuyimana, Olivier Ntagengwa , Vincent Dusabimana ‘Gasongo’, Pierre Kwizera Marshal, Fred Musoni  and Hyango Theodore, Herve Kagimbura and Elie Mutabazi and Mutabazi Bosco.

By Peter Kamasa,The New Times

Another day. Another stage winner and another Yellow Jersey winner. This was yesterday’s outcome of the 2013 Tour of Rwanda after Team MTN-Qhubeka’s Johann Zyl Van won Stage 4 from Musanze to Muhanga but South Africa National Team’s Dylan Girdlestone snatched the overall lead.

Team MTN-Qhubeka’s Johann Zyl Van celebrates after winning Stage Four of Tour of Rwanda. Times Sport / P. Kamasa.

Zyl Van covered the 128km in 3 hours 20 minutes and 8 seconds, four seconds ahead of his countryman Girdlestone, who however takes overall leader’s coveted Yellow Jersey from MTN-Qhubeka’s Jes Louis Meintjes.

Team Rwanda Akagera’s Emile Bintunimana was fifth after clocking 3 hours 22 minutes and 38 seconds in a photo-finish ahead of Team AS. BE. CO’s Yemane Nereket.

Belgian Thomas Debrabandere, who rides for Team Avia Crabbe clocked 3h 22 minutes and 38 seconds to take third place yesterday.

Dubbed, the ‘Queen Stage’ of the 2013 Tour of Rwanda, the route lived up to its name as the riders tackled six mountains from Musanze (Northern Province) in an uphill battle to the finish in Muhanga (Southern Province).

The 24-year- old Girdlestone, who was 3rd in the general classification coming into the 4th stage, takes the Leader jersey into today’s 5thstage after using a total time of 12h 37’ 00’’.

Meintjes, who finished 21st yesterday in a time of 3h 22 minutes and 38 seconds, dropped to overall second with a time of 12h 39’ 10’’ while, the best climber until Thursday, Eyob Metket of Team AS CO BE, is third with 12h 39’ 18’’. Stage 4 winner, Zyl Van is 24th overall with 12h 47’49”.

Team Karisimbi’s Jean Bosco Nsengiyumva, who is sixth in the general classification with a time of 12 hours 41 minutes and 48 seconds, continues to wear the White Jersey reserved for best Rwandan. He finished 14th yesterday.

Competitive race

Compared to  the previous years; Rwandan riders have  made great improvement as they have already won two stages with Janvier Hadi winning the Prologue on day one at Amahoro stadium-Kimironko-Amahoro stadium.

And 19-year-old Valens Ndayisenga became the youngest Rwandan rider to win any stage in Tour of Rwanda after he dramatically claimed stage two (Rwamagana-Musanze) on Tuesday.

Last year, Rwandan riders did not win a single stage. Before this year, the last Rwandan rider to win a Tour of Rwanda stage was Joseph Biziyaremye during the 2011 edition.

This year’s Tour of Rwanda is proving to be more competitive than the previous edition due to the fact that the Yellow Jersey has changed hands four times.

Rwanda’s Hadi, MTN Qhubekha’s duo Thomson and Meintjes and now South Africa National Team’s Girdlestone, have donned it in stage 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively.

In total, 16 teams from Africa, Europe and America are participating in this year’s race and each team has five riders. Rwanda is being represented by three teams, Karisimbi, Akagera and Muhabura.

The African teams include; South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Morocco, Algeria, Cameroon, Tanzania and Gabon.

The professional teams are; Avia Crabbe (Belgium), Team Haute Savoie (France) and South Africa’s MTN-Qhubeka, which features Rwanda’s top professional rider Adrien Niyonshuti.

Today, riders will compete in Stage five from Muhanga – Nyamagabe for a total of 102. 4km

By Peter Kamasa,The New Times

General Service Unit (GSU) centre attacker Wesley Rono is the surprise inclusion in the national volleyball men’s team named yesterday ahead of the World Championship Zonal ‘H’ second round qualifier slated for next week in Kigali, Rwanda.

Rono makes a comeback after having sitting out of national duties for the last couple of years. His last international assignment was during 2011 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers staged in Rwanda.

However, the centre attacker will have to fight out with Sila Makiso of Kenya Defence Force and Prisons’ Saul Wafula for a slot in the coach Gideon Chenje’s starting line-up. Commenting on the new development, Rono noted that hard work and discipline has put him where he is. He said every player’s dream is to make it to the national team hence he is glad to have been named. “ I am humbled by the confidence the volleyball fraternity have showed in me after missing national assignment for the last 3 years.’

He said, “It is a good feeling to make the cut after three years in the cold. I have worked hard at GSU to return at the top and I am happy that someone has noticed my effort,” said Rono. Team manager, Tobias Wafula said they has picked the 12 players on merit basing on experience, exposure and discipline. “Most of these players were part of the squad that played in the first round of qualifiers in Uganda and they managed to win all their matches. This is partly the reason why we settled on them to do the duties again,” he explained. He added, “Rono has shown a lot of growth in training and in the national volleyball league and I believe he will do well for the team.”

Those axed were—Solom Bitok, Peter Gachoki, Bonjentry Mukekhe, David Kirwa and Nicolas Langat.

Squad: Alex Kariuki, Daniel Kiptoo, Elisha Ragot, Wesley Rono, Saul Wafula, Phillip Maiyo, Ibrahim Oduori, Sila Makiso, Cornelius Lagat, Micheal Chemosp, James Ontere and Dennis Onsomu.

AGNES MAKHANDIA

Six Dar es Salaam teams are ready to compete at this year’s Tanzania Darts Championship scheduled to kick off today at Kiwira Hotel in Mbeya.

The Dar es Salaam Amateur Darts Association (DADA) official Lambert Rwihula confirmed to the ‘Daily News on Saturday’ in the city yesterday that Ilala and Temeke are the only districts that will represent the region in the national event that ends tomorrow.

“Only Ilala and Kinondoni will represent Dar es Salaam at Mbeya’s event, the teams are ready to fight for top honours,” he said. He said that Ilala and Kinondoni each will be featuring two men’s and a women’s side at the event.

Rwihula who is expected to join his teams in Mbeya today added that each team will be formed by four players, who will be battling it out in singles and doubles during the tournament. He noted that Temeke failed to send the team in Mbeya due to the financial constrained.

“Temeke will be missing because they failed to secure sponsor to send the teams,” he said. Mwanza has been dominating the tournament in recent years, but Rwihula said that Dar es Salaam is capable of silencing the defending champions this time around, although they are aware that they should not expect an easy ride.

Organisers Tanzania Amateur Darts Association (TADA) Secretary General, Kale Mgonja told the ‘Daily News on Saturday’ that all is going well and Mbeya is ready to hosts this year’s event. Mgonja said that they will know the exact numbers of teams that will take part in the event today morning. Recently he told this paper that six regions including defending champion Mwanza, Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Morogoro and hosts Mbeya have already confirmed.

Source Tanzania Daily News

Burundi Volleyball national team coach, Lavoisier Yende, has named a twelve-man squad for the FIVB Zone V World Championships due November 25 to December 1 at the Amahoro indoor stadium in Kigali.

The Zone V Qualifiers tournament will attract five countries including Burundi, Egypt, Kenya, Uganda and hosts Rwanda. Two teams will join Egypt in the continental final qualifying round.

The final round will decide the top three teams that will represent Africa at the 2014 FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championships to be held in Poland. Burundi is expected in Kigali on Monday ahead of the regional tournament.

Final team:

Trésor Ntwari (Muzinga), Patrick Bizimungu (Rukinzo), Donald Beruburundi (Rukinzo), Olivier Ntisumbwa (Muzinga), Israel Nkamicaniye (Muzinga) and Innocent Iradukunda (Rukinzo), Yvan Dukundane (Muzinga), Eric Bampurubusa (Rukinzo), Pacifique Iradukunda (Rukinzo),  Richard Niyongabo (Rukinzo), Sixte Nderagakura (Amical des sportifs de Bujumbura) Briand Mugabowingabo (Muzinga).

Head Coach: Yende Lavoisier (Cameroonian), Assistants Jean Marie Gahungu and Aloys Manirakiza.

By Peter Kamasa,The New Times