Rwanda Cycling Federation plans to set up a training centre in Rwamagana town which will be named after the country’s top rider Adrien Niyonshuti.
According to the Chairman of the Federation, Aimable Bayingana, the idea of naming the centre after Niyonshuti is to recognise his contribution towards putting Rwandan cycling on the international map.
“We needed to do something to express our gratitude to him. We hope it will inspire the young generation to take up the sport. Our target is to develop the sport around young riders, and I hope this centre will help us have high quality riders in the near future,” Bayigana said recently.
He added: “This training centre will help us in grooming a new generation of riders who will represent the country in international competitions.”
Bayingana revealed that, if everything goes according to plan, the centre should start operating at the end of next month.
The centre, which will receive support from the ‘Friends of Rwandan Cycling’ from Italy and UK, will enlist young riders aged between 12 and 18 years as well as female riders.
Meanwhile, the federation is looking for information from around the country regarding the riders who were killed during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi such that in June they can organise a competition in their memory.
By Peter Kamasa, The New Times