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  • LeBron in awe of South Sudan's Moshions outfits at Olympics, Hollywood stars visit Rwanda and co #rwanda #RwOT

    We are close to eight months in 2024 and Rwanda's pop culture is getting hotter than ever, with exciting performances and developments that keep entertainment industry abuzz.

    From Hollywood celebrity Will Ferrel's visit to Kigali alongside Jon Turteltaub, to Moshions making it at Paris 2024, not forgetting Dr Hillary and Teacher Mpamire's thrilling performances at Gen Z comedy show in Kigali, The New Times picks some stories that made headlines over the week.

    South Sudan basketball team rock Moshions outfits at Paris Olympics

    Moshions, a renowned Rwandan fashion house founded by Moses Turahirwa, hit arguably their biggest stage ever when South Sudan basketball team rock the brand's custom-made fits during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Games on Friday, July 26, leaving NBA and Team USA Men's basketball star LeBron James out of words.

    'Them boys was clean AF!!!!' LeBron reacted on South Sudan basketball's Olympic opening ceremony outfit.

    Arguably the best fashion house in Rwanda, Moshions took to social media and said, 'We are proud to land in Paris Olympics with South Sudan basketball team, all custom made fits and designs made by Moshions.'

    South Sudan's basketball team is representing Africa at the ongoing Paris 2024 Olympics. They won their first ever game on their debut Olympic appearance, beating Puerto Rico 90-79 on Sunday.

    Hollywood celebs Ferrell, Turteltaub visit Rwanda

    Celebrated American filmmakers Will Ferrell, popularly known for his comedic acting in films like 'Anchorman', and Jon Turteltaub were on a private visit in Rwanda over the past week.

    The two filmmakers were first spotted in Kigali on Tuesday, July 23, at a meet and greet session with their Rwandan counterparts and other creatives held at Kigali Multimedia Hub, Nyarutarama.

    Ferrel and Turteltaub later visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial with their families and paid tribute to the victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi and learned more about the country's history.

    Returning Teacher Mpamire excites Kigalians

    The Gen-Z Comedy Show on Thursday, July 25, was characterized by a lot of fun and laughter at full house Camp Kigali tent.

    Headlined by acclaimed Ugandan comedians Teacher Mpamire and Dr Hillary Okello, the event featured a mix of seasoned stars and emerging Gen-Z talents.

    The duo had previously staged performances in Kigali but they took last week's edition more serious than ever considering that it was a special occasion to join Rwandan avid comedy enthusiasts in celebration of President Paul Kagame's re-election during the July 2024 polls.

    Another highlight of the night was the 'Meet me tonight' segment which saw comedian Fally Merci hosting traditional singer Massamba Intore.

    The legendary musician treated fans to acapella renditions of his famous songs and took the opportunity to promote his upcoming 40th-anniversary concert.

    Bruce Melodie refutes feud with The Ben

    Rwandan musician Bruce Melodie insists he and his fellow The Ben are on good terms, distancing himself from reports linking them with a beef.

    This came after The Ben used Bruce Melodies's recently released song 'Sowe' in an Instagram post, a move that is also said to have pushed the song to generate over 300,000 views in 24 hours, and went on to cross 1,000,000 YouTube views.

    The gesture was well-received by tens of thousands of his followers who showed him respect for the cause despite recent alleged feud between the two artists.

    Reacting to The Ben's support for his new song, Bruce Melodie said that all is well with the latter and made it clear that it is the media and fans who were fueling the tension.

    'Everything is good with The Ben,' Melodie told TV host Luckman Nzeyimana via Versus, a showbiz talk show broadcast on Rwanda Television, on Wednesday 24 July.

    'Dore Imbogo' singer passes on

    Valentine Nyiransengiyumva, known for her song Dore Imbogo, passed on Saturday, July 27.

    She died of illness after weeks hospitalized at Kibuye Hospital in Nyamasheke District.

    Appearing on different YouTube channels and her sense of humor during interviews is what made her a celebrity in the last couple of months.

    Born and raised in Nyamasheke District, the 26-year-old was also made a named for herself when she released 'Dore Imbogo,' her debut song which went on to make waves in the country.

    The post LeBron in awe of South Sudan's Moshions outfits at Olympics, Hollywood stars visit Rwanda and co appeared first on The Custom Reports.

    Source : https://thecustomreports.com/lebron-in-awe-of-south-sudans-moshions-outfits-at-olympics-hollywood-stars-visit-rwanda-and-co/

  • Football transfer rumours: Man Utd receive Antony bid; Liverpool make Gyokeres offer #rwanda #RwOT

    Manchester United have received a bid for winger Antony from Turkish side Besiktas. The Brazilian wants to stay at Old Trafford despite United's desire to sell. (Ertan Suzgun)

    Another United winger, Jadon Sancho, has reached an agreement in principle with Paris Saint-Germain, who are yet to meet his £50m asking price. (Sports Zone — France)

    Nico Williams has decided to remain with Athletic Club next season despite interest from Arsenal, Chelsea and Barcelona. (Daniel Sobis)

    On the other hand, Williams has not yet made his decision and Barcelona are still awaiting a response to their proposal to the Euro 2024 winner. (Gerard Romero)

    Those close to Williams have not confirmed his decision but have also not denied the suggestion he will stay with Athletic Club. (Toni Juanmarti)

    Arsenal will demand £30m to part ways with goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale this summer amid interest from Nottingham Forest and Southampton. (CaughtOffside)

    Real Madrid are working on deals to sign both Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold and Bayern Munich left-back Alphonso Davies on free transfers next summer. (Matteo Moretto)

    Trent Alexander-Arnold
    Alexander-Arnold continues to be linked with an exit / James Baylis — AMA/GettyImages

    Liverpool have made a move to sign Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres ahead of Tottenham Hotspur. The Portuguese side continue to hold out for his £84.5m release clause. (Football Insider)

    However, Liverpool have been rejected by former Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot, who snubbed the chance to join the Reds and is holding out for an offer from Man Utd. (Tutto Juve — Italy)

    Aston Villa have made an offer to sign Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips on loan. (Football Insider)

    Another player whose future at Man City is uncertain is right-back Joao Cancelo. A return to Barcelona is unlikely because of his £25m price tag. (Mundo Deportivo — Spain)

    Newcastle United are chasing £10m-rated Sheffield United striker Will Osula as a backup to both Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson. (Alan Nixon)

    The agent of Juventus winger Federico Chiesa is in London and has held meetings with both Chelsea and Tottenham over the £25m-rated Italy international. (Gazzetta dello Sport — Italy)

    West Ham United have met Monaco's demands over midfielder Youssouf Fofana with a £29.5m bid, exceeding the £14.4m offered by rival suitors AC Milan. (L'Equipe — France)

    Fofana, however, has already rejected West Ham's proposal and is holding out for a move to Milan, with whom he has agreed personal terms. The Hammers are already looking elsewhere. (Fabrizio Romano)

    The post Football transfer rumours: Man Utd receive Antony bid; Liverpool make Gyokeres offer appeared first on The Custom Reports.

    Source : https://thecustomreports.com/football-transfer-rumours-man-utd-receive-antony-bid-liverpool-make-gyokeres-offer/

  • UAE President congratulates Kagame on re-election #rwanda #RwOT

    President Kagame won the presidential election held on July 14-15, 2024, with 99.18% of the vote, defeating Dr. Frank Habineza of the Green Party, who received 0.50%, and Philippe Mpayimana, who garnered 0.32%.

    Following the election victory, Sheikh Mohamed joined other world leaders in extending his wishes for President Kagame’s continued success in advancing Rwanda’s development. He acknowledged Rwanda’s remarkable progress in lifting its citizens out of poverty over the past 30 years.

    In a phone conversation, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed expressed his best wishes for President Paul Kagame’s success in leading his nation and “fulfilling the aspirations of his people for development and prosperity.”

    He also underscored commitment to continue working with President Kagame in the coming period to strengthen UAE-Rwandan cooperation at various levels, benefiting both nations.

    In response, President Kagame thanked Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his message and reaffirmed his commitment to further deepen the existing cooperation.

    'It was an honor and a pleasure to receive a congratulatory call from my brother and friend President HH Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed and I thanked him for his very good wishes,' Kagame posted on his X handle.

    'Rwanda remains committed to continue deepening the productive bilateral cooperation with the UAE, and I look forward to further strengthening key areas of partnership between our nations and our people,' he added.

    The relationship between Rwanda and the UAE spans multiple sectors, including education, technology, trade, and agriculture. Bilateral trade between the two countries reached $1.1 billion in 2023, a significant contribution largely driven by Rwanda’s exports of vegetables and fruits.

    Every week, Rwanda exports over 60 tons of vegetables and fruits to the UAE. In 2022, Rwanda exported goods worth $514.5 million to Dubai while importing goods valued at $143 million from the UAE.

    This partnership has also facilitated the increase of exports to other Gulf countries, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.

    In March 2024, 26 Rwandan companies were registered to do business in Dubai, and 100 Rwandan companies were offering services through Dubuy.com, a platform by Dubai Port (DP) World that helps deliver products like coffee and tea.

    DP World, an Emirati company, manages the Kigali Logistics Platform in Masaka, Kicukiro District, a dry port that stores imported and exported goods before distribution across the region.

    RwandAir operats three weekly flights between Kigali and Sharjah, the third-most populous city in the United Arab Emirates.

    In 2022, a new initiative was launched to export Hass avocados via sea, strengthening the trade relationship between the two nations even further.

    President Kagame with UAE President, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi, in 2022.

    IGIHE

    Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/uae-president-congratulates-kagame-on-re-election

  • Israel vows to hit Hezbollah after rocket kills 12 on football field #rwanda #RwOT

    Israel convened its security cabinet on Sunday to discuss responding to a rocket strike in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights that killed 12 teenagers and children, and which Israel and the United States blamed on Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.
    Hezbollah denied responsibility for the attack on Majdal Shams, the deadliest in Israel or Israeli-annexed territory since Palestinian militant group Hamas' Oct. 7 assault sparked the war in Gaza. That conflict has spread to several fronts and risks spilling into a wider regional conflict.
    Israeli jets hit targets in southern Lebanon during the day but a stronger response could follow the security meeting in Tel Aviv convened by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after his return from a visit to Washington.
    Israel has vowed retaliation against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
    The White House on Sunday also blamed Hezbollah for the Majdal Shams strike. 'This attack was conducted by Lebanese Hezbollah. It was their rocket, and launched from an area they control,' it said in a statement.
    The U.S. said Washington has been in discussions with Israeli and Lebanese counterparts since Saturday's attack, which it condemned and described as 'horrific,' and that it was working on a diplomatic solution.
    U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Washington stood by Israel's right to defend itself, but that it did not want further escalation of the conflict, which has seen daily exchanges of fire between the Israeli military and Hezbollah along the border.

    Britain expressed concern at further escalation while Egypt said the attack could spill 'into a comprehensive regional war.'
    On the ground, thousands of people gathered for funerals in the Druze village of Majdal Shams in the Golan Heights, territory captured from Syria by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war and annexed in a move not recognised by most countries.
    Members of the Druze faith, which is related to Islam, Christianity and Judaism, make up more than half the 40,000-strong population of the Golan Heights. Large crowds of mourners, many in traditional high white and red Druze headwear, surrounded the caskets as they were carried through the village.
    'A heavy tragedy, a dark day has come to Majdal Shams,' said Dolan Abu Saleh, head of the Majdal Shams local council, in comments broadcast on Israeli television.
    Hezbollah initially had announced it fired rockets at Israeli military sites in the Golan Heights, but said it had 'absolutely nothing' to do with the attack on Majdal Shams.

    ISRAEL SAYS ROCKET IRANIAN-MADE

    However, Israel said the rocket was an Iranian-made missile fired from an area north of the village of Chebaa in southern Lebanon, placing the blame squarely on Iranian-backed Hezbollah.
    It was not immediately clear if the children and teenagers killed in the strike were Israeli citizens, but Israeli officials have vowed retaliation.

    Item 1 of 5 Majdal Shams, Golan Heights, July 28 2024. REUTERS/Ammar Awad
    [1/5]Majdal Shams, Golan Heights, July 28 2024. REUTERS/Ammar Awad Purchase Licensing Rights
    'The rocket that murdered our boys and girls was an Iranian rocket and Hezbollah is the only terror organization which has those in its arsenal,' Israel's foreign ministry said.
    Two security sources told Reuters Hezbollah was on high alert and had cleared out some key sites in both Lebanon's south and the eastern Bekaa Valley in case of an Israeli attack.
    Lebanon's Middle East Airlines said it was delaying the arrival of some flights from Sunday night to Monday morning, without stating why.
    In the southern port city of Tyre, a little over 20 km (12 miles) from the border, beachgoers were still streaming to the coast. 'There's fear that Israel will react, but people are living their life normally,' said Ali Husseini, manager of a beachside business in Tyr.
    Israeli forces have been exchanging fire for months with Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon but both sides have appeared to be avoiding an escalation that could lead to all-out war, potentially dragging in other powers including the United States and Iran.
    However, Saturday's strike threatened to tip the standoff into a more dangerous phase. United Nations officials urged maximum restraint from both sides, warning that escalation could 'engulf the entire region in a catastrophe beyond belief.'
    Lebanon has asked the U.S to urge restraint from Israel, Lebanon's foreign minister Abdallah Bou Habib told Reuters. Bou Habib said the U.S. had asked Lebanon's government to pass on a message to Hezbollah to show restraint as well.

    ALL-OUT WAR FEARED

    Iran's foreign ministry warned Israel on Sunday against what it called any new adventure in Lebanon.
    Syria's foreign ministry said it held Israel 'fully responsible for this dangerous escalation in the region' and said its accusations against Hezbollah were false.
    Two diplomats focused on Lebanon said all efforts were now needed to avoid an all-out war.
    The conflict has forced tens of thousands of people in both Lebanon and Israel to leave their homes. Israeli strikes have killed some 350 Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon and more than 100 civilians, including medics, children and journalists.
    The Israeli military said after Saturday's attack the death toll among civilians killed in Hezbollah attacks had risen to 23 since October, along with at least 17 soldiers.
    Hezbollah is the most powerful of a network of Iran-backed groups across the Middle East and opened a second front against Israel shortly after Hamas' Oct. 7 assault.
    Iraqi groups and the Houthis of Yemen have both fired at Israel, which earlier this month attacked the Red Sea port of Hodeidah in retaliation for a strike on Tel Aviv that killed one person. Hamas has also carried out rocket attacks on Israel from Lebanon, as has the Lebanese Sunni group, the Jama'a Islamiya.
    Druze communities live on both sides of the line between southern Lebanon and northern Israel as well as in the Golan Heights and Syria. While some serve in the Israeli military and identify with Israel, many feel marginalized in Israel and some also reject Israeli citizenship.

    Reporting by Avi Ohayon and Ammar Awad in Majdal Shams, James Mackenzie and Ari Rabinovitch in Jerusalem; Laila Bassam and Maya Gebeily in Beirut; Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by William Maclean and Andrew Cawthorne

    The post Israel vows to hit Hezbollah after rocket kills 12 on football field appeared first on The Custom Reports.

    Source : https://thecustomreports.com/israel-vows-to-hit-hezbollah-after-rocket-kills-12-on-football-field/

  • Turkey approves two-year military deployment to Somalia #rwanda #RwOT

    Turkey's parliament on Saturday approved a motion to deploy its armed forces to Somalia,  including to the country's territorial waters.

    The two-year operation aims to support Mogadishu's counterterrorism operations and comes months after the two countries signed a defence and economic cooperation deal.

    Al Qaeda-linked Al Shabaab has been waging an insurgency against the Somali government since 2006 in a bid to establish to establish a fundamentalist Islamic state.

    Turkey has been providing training, assistance, and advisory support to Somalia for more than 10 years, working to restructure its defence and security forces.

    But Turkish officials say economic challenges have prevented Somali armed forces from being fully effective.

    Earlier this month, Ankara said it will send an exploration vessel off the coast of Somalia later this year to search for oil and gas as part of a hydrocarbon cooperation deal between two countries.

    The post Turkey approves two-year military deployment to Somalia appeared first on The Custom Reports.

    Source : https://thecustomreports.com/turkey-approves-two-year-military-deployment-to-somalia/

  • Wood and Stokes blow West Indies away to power England to 3-0 clean sweep #rwanda #RwOT

    It was the kind of lower-order ­demolition job once associated with West Indies, but on a heady third day at Edgbaston the tourists were the ones on the receiving end. Roared on by a capacity crowd after lunch, Mark Wood unleashed a truly ­electric burst of fast-twitch reverse swing that secured a 3-0 series clean sweep for England.

    Not even Ben Stokes promoting himself to opener and crashing the fastest half-century by an Englishman — 24 balls, beating Ian Botham's long-held record by four — could knock Wood off the top of the podium after this 10-wicket win. Stokes was murderous, no question, a target of 82 vaporised in about 40 minutes. But Wood, luckless in Nottingham last week despite bowling like the speed of light, was the catalyst here.

    Even with a sense of inevitability about the end result after Jamie Smith's stylish 95 led England's turnaround on the second day, there was still a job to be done. And after West Indies hustled to 151 for five by lunch — a lead of 57 runs — it looked like that job would involve a good deal of patience. Kavem Hodge was well set on 52, while England knew plenty about the battling qualities of Joshua Da Silva at the other end.

    Enter Wood, who was thrown a 41-over old ball by Stokes after the break and set off on a white-knuckle ride. He claimed five wickets in 21 deliveries and each one was met with a collective gasp. Attention may be on the Olympics, where all manner of remarkable feats are being delivered, but this was something to rival all that from a bowler who has a strong claim to be the fastest in England's history.

    To say the luck finally turned for Wood here would be to sell short the qualities that led to his fifth five‑wicket haul in Test cricket. Resistance was utterly futile out in the middle, Wood getting the ball to swing in late at speeds above 90mph and sending stumps cartwheeling like the gymnasts in Paris. West Indies may have a diplodocus's tail but a good number of lower orders would have struggled to cope here.

    It began with Da Silva being pinned lbw by a full ball — the wicketkeeper's feet stuck in concrete by the pace and late movement — and ended with Shamar Joseph fencing meekly to slip. In between there were a pair of clonking clean-bowleds to wipe out Alzarri Joseph and Jayden Seales, while Hodge, one of the bright sparks for West Indies after that memorable century at Trent Bridge, was simply nicked off with a beauty.

    After Wood walked off to a ­standing ovation, the ball raised to all corners as he did so, all that was left was for the openers to negotiate the target. The only catch was that one of them, Zak Crawley, was in hospital having a scan. A fractured little finger was the problem here, Crawley dropping a sharp catch off the bowling of Stokes during a more hard-fought morning session in which Mikyle Louis briefly crackled with 57.

    Not for the first time, Stokes stepped up and in the time it took to queue for a pint, the target was monstered. Striking an unbeaten 57 from 28 balls, with Ben Duckett chipping in 25 more, the England captain sent the spectators into raptures — even if by doing so he also cut short their entertainment. Still, they got to witness a bit of history, Stokes belting Shamar Joseph over deep midwicket for the first of his two sixes and surpassing the 28-ball half-century that Botham struck against India in 1981.

    Lord Beefy will probably raise a glass of red to this, although for Stokes, satisfaction was to be found elsewhere. A series that started with an emotional farewell for Jimmy Anderson ended with a handful of newcomers having announced themselves. Among them was Gus Atkinson, who took his tally for the series to 22 wickets when before lunch Surrey's slippery quick pinned Jason Holder lbw for 12, hinted at the reverse that was to follow and ensured Crawley's painful drop was at least not costly in terms of runs.

    Smith was another, with scores of 70 at Lord's and 95 here underlining his talents with the bat. Less ­discussed was the solid ­wicketkeeping that returned 14 catches and was ­generally sound throughout. And while Shoaib Bashir was among the support cast in Birmingham after last week's five‑wicket haul at Trent Bridge, the off-spinner still got things moving on the third morning by trapping Alick Athanaze lbw on the sweep.

    There is a case to say that with the series already secured, England should have blooded Dillon Pennington or Matt Potts here. But while Chris Woakes was pretty sore by the end, sending down only a couple of overs on the final day, his role as a home banker was highlighted by four ­wickets in the match and another precious half-century with the bat. As well as being nearly seven years younger, these all-round qualities are what undermine any comparisons with Anderson's enforced retirement.

    England have made progress since the 4-1 defeat in India, albeit home conditions and the strength of opposition must be taken into account. That said, for all the obvious concerns about West Indies, a number of green shoots were visible amid the rubble of a one-sided contest: green shoots like the emergence of the stylish Hodge or a pace attack that has the potential to be world beating if afforded time, resources and fixtures.

    The question is whether this is actually possible as the red weed of franchise cricket continues its unchecked spread, or whether the global game's priorities require urgent recalibration. With all three grounds packed out for this series — Test cricket also accounting for the bulk of the broadcast money in this country — and the Hundred getting off to another low-key start, English cricket's surrender to the current direction of travel is pretty hard to fathom.

    The post Wood and Stokes blow West Indies away to power England to 3-0 clean sweep appeared first on The Custom Reports.

    Source : https://thecustomreports.com/wood-and-stokes-blow-west-indies-away-to-power-england-to-3-0-clean-sweep/

  • Cultural convergence: West African talent in Rwandan football #rwanda #RwOT

    Ordinarily, the history of Rwandan football is one of a modest and locally contained affair with a few foreign players who graced the stage in the 1980s throughout the 1990s.

    Traditionally, most of these foreign players were from Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and sometimes Uganda.

    Notable names include Jean-Marie Ntagwabira (RIP), who played for local clubs during the 1980s going on to become a famous coach, and Hassan Gasana, a prominent striker who played for APR FC and was known for his goal-scoring ability during the late 1990s. Both players were originally from Burundi.

    Others are Shabani Nonda, Bokota Kamana Labama (both from DRC) and Uganda’s Ibrahim Mugisha, a highly-regarded goalkeeper who played for APR FC and Rayon Sports during the 1990s and early 2000s.

    In modern history, Rwanda, as a country, has blossomed into a beacon of sporting excellence, establishing standard infrastructure as a way of boosting the sports fraternity, especially football.

    As thus, Rwandan football clubs, keen on elevating their game and making a mark on the regional stage have started scouting beyond regional borders.

    There is an influx of foreign players across the African continent, particularly from the football-rich nations of West Africa.

    With countries like Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Cameroon, West Africa is a region celebrated for its prodigious footballing talent.

    Known for producing world-class players, this region has now become the prime target for Rwandan clubs looking to infuse new energy and skill into their squads.

    The latest to join is Agyenim Boateng Mensah, a Ghanaian youngster who last week signed for Huye-based Mukura Victory Sports club on a two-year deal.

    As he came to Rwanda, Agyenim was the second top scorer in the Ghana Premier League of the season after netting 14 goals in 19 games.

    Before that, others like Michael Sarpong and Olokwei Commodore have also featured in the Rwanda Premier League but Prosper Donkor stands out as the initiator of the exodus of Ghanaian players to Rwanda when he signed for Rayon Sports FC on August 5, 2018.

    Today, APR FC has Salomon Banga from Cameroon and Victor Mbaoma, a Nigerian centre-forward who has also played for the Nigeria national football team. Police FC has 22-year-old Odili Chukwuma who was recently signed from Bugesera FC. The list is endless.

    The arrival of West African players has brought a breath of fresh air to the league. This is because with their dazzling footwork, tactical acumen, and unwavering determination, they quickly become the heartbeats of their teams.

    Festus Adejere is a young Nigerian talent who plays for Second Division Side La Jeunesse FC. He says that he is proud to leverage the insights he gets from his managers and teammates to enhance his professional journey.

    'Training sessions here turn into learning experiences, with fellow teammates picking up new techniques, strategies, and a deeper understanding of the game,' he says.

    Festus Adejere (L) , a young Nigerian player who plays for Second Division side La Jeunesse FC, poses with fans after a game in which he scored the winning goal.

    According to him, the fusion of local enthusiasm and foreign expertise blended with a unique footballing culture makes the game more entertaining and highly competitive.

    Adejere, who was his team’s top scorer last season with 14 goals, says that the integration of these foreign players into Rwandan teams has also fostered a sense of unity and camaraderie.

    'As you develop further, the impact goes beyond just winning matches. You try to become a mentor or role model for younger Rwandan players, inspiring them to dream bigger and work harder,' he explains.

    Adejere (carrying a young fan) says that the integration of foreign players into Rwandan teams has fostered a sense of unity and camaraderie.

    This shared love for football has bridged cultural gaps, promoted mutual respect and understanding. Most West African players have embraced Rwandan culture, while locals appreciate the diverse backgrounds and stories their new heroes come with.

    Today, the Rwanda Premier League stands as a testament to the power of collaboration and diversity in sports. This has not only raised the standard of football in Rwanda but has also brought a sense of excitement and global connectivity to the league.

    As the league continues to grow, striving to be a melting pot of talent, where young Rwandan prospects come together to create football magic, the contribution of West African talent cannot be underestimated.

    The status of Rwandan football is a story of ambition, collaboration, and the unifying spirit of the game. It is Sport reimagined, where every match is a celebration of talent and culture.

    The beautiful game continues to transcend borders, bringing joy and inspiration to all who witness it.

    Second Division side La Jeunesse FC has some players from West Africa

    Sam K Nkurunziza

    Source : https://en.igihe.com/sports/article/cultural-convergence-west-african-talent-in-rwandan-football

  • Buttigieg: Republicans calling Kamala Harris a diversity hire is 'bad look' #rwanda #RwOT

    White House administrator Pete Buttigieg says it is 'a bad look' for Republicans to call Kamala Harris a diversity hire in their attempts to slow down the momentum that has greeted her ascent to the top of the Democratic ticket for November's presidential race.

    On Saturday's episode of the New York Times podcast The Interview, the Democratic transportation secretary said 'you can tell' that is the case because of how even Republican US House speaker Mike Johnson has tried to distance himself from that line of attack against Harris.

    'You got somebody like Mike Johnson, who is a very, very conservative figure … telling his own caucus, like, 'Hey, cool it,'' Buttigieg remarked to podcast host Lulu Garcia-Navarro. 'He's basically saying that they are embarrassing the party, and I think acknowledging that they are diminishing the party's chances by indulging in that kind of rhetoric.'

    Buttigieg added: 'And the fact that they can't think of what else to do, besides go right to race and gender, isn't just revealing about some of the ugliest undercurrents in today's Republican party — it's also profoundly unimaginative because it means that they can't speak to how any of this is going to make people's lives better.'

    Harris, a former California attorney general and US senator who is of Indian and Jamaican heritage, became the first woman to be elected vice-president when Joe Biden won the Oval Office in 2020. She is now poised to become the first woman of color to lead a major-party presidential ticket after Biden halted his re-election campaign on 21 July and endorsed her, setting the stage for Harris to reportedly raise $200m for her political warchest in a matter of days.

    Supporters of the Republican nominee Donald Trump — who lost the presidency to Biden — have met those accomplishments by disparaging Harris as a hire resulting from diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. While grappling with a criminal conviction for election-related fraud in a case involving an adult film actor who alleged an extramarital sexual encounter with him as well as other prosecutions pending against him, Trump has insulted Harris as 'crazy', 'nuts', 'dumb as a rock' and — at a rally on Friday — 'a bum'.

    That approach prompted some Republican leaders to try to warn party members against aiming overt racism and sexism at Harris. Those included Johnson, who said at a Tuesday news briefing: 'This election will be about policies and not personalities.'

    The Louisiana congressman added: 'This is not personal with regard to Kamala Harris, and her ethnicity or her gender having nothing to do with this whatsoever.'

    Opinion polls show Harris is running a tight race with Trump after Biden had fallen several points behind, with support in vital swing states plummeting.

    Buttigieg — the ex-mayor of South Bend, Indiana, who unsuccessfully sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020 — is considered to be among a field of contenders to be Harris's running mate. And in fact, a National Public Radio/PBS News/Marist poll showed him tied as the most popular Democratic vice-presidential candidate for the fall election.

    He declined to tell Garcia-Navarro whether he believed he would make a good vice-president.

    'I don't think it's appropriate for me to talk like that knowing that the person who needs to make that decision is … her — not me,' Buttigieg said. 'I don't think it's appropriate for me to wander down that path with you right now.'

    The post Buttigieg: Republicans calling Kamala Harris a diversity hire is 'bad look' appeared first on The Custom Reports.

    Source : https://thecustomreports.com/buttigieg-republicans-calling-kamala-harris-a-diversity-hire-is-bad-look/

  • Dutch child rapist greeted with boos – and applause – before Olympics loss #rwanda #RwOT

    convicted child rapist competing for the Netherlands at the Paris 2024 Olympics was met with boos — and some applause — as he walked out for his first beach volleyball match on Sunday.

    Steven van de Velde, who was convicted for raping a 12-year-old girl in 2016, lost his first game with partner Matthew Immers. The beach volleyball player has been at the centre of a storm in Paris after victims' groups said his inclusion sent a dangerous message to rapists and would cause 'collateral damage' to victims of sexual abuse.

    Boos were audible when Van de Velde was introduced to the crowds at the Eiffel Tower Stadium in central Paris, but were replaced with cheers when his Dutch teammate Immers took to the field of play before the pair's match against Italy.

    There had been a mixture of boos and cheers as the players had entered the arena together, but when Van de Velde was introduced on his own, the jeers were more pronounced. While there was some muted applause for the player, there were no cheers. Van de Velde raised his arm as he walked on to the sandy court, which is directly next to the Eiffel Tower.

    The Italians Alex Ranghieri and Adrian Ignacio Carambula Raurich took the first set 22-20, the Dutch won the second 21-19, and the deciding third set was 15-13 to the Italians.

    Van de Velde, who is now 29, was sentenced to four years in prison in 2016 after pleading guilty to raping the British girl. He had flown to England to meet her in 2014 with full knowledge of her age, having met her on Facebook. Van de Velde served 12 months in a British prison, before being transferred to his home country where he was released after a further month.

    The boos that greeted the player are unusual at the Games, and were incongruous in this most spectacular of venues where crowds had earlier performed several Mexican waves and cheered as dancers entertained them between matches.

    Two Dutch fans said they had bought tickets for the event a year and a half ago before the scandal blew up. Anna from Utrecht, who did not want to give his surname, said: 'I think he has had his penalty, so now he can start with a clean sheet.'

    His friend Jesper, who also did not want to give his second name, said the case had sparked a lot of debate among Dutch people. 'The crime he committed is, of course, a sensitive one,' he said. 'That's why people are also a little bit struggling, because we having conversations like, are we cheering him on, or not? It's different — if it was any other Dutch person, we wouldn't even have that discussion.' He added that he also thought Van de Velde had served his time and should be allowed to play: 'You respond from emotion, which is completely correct. But we also have a legal system.'

    Steven van de Velde competing at the Olympics
    The participation of Steven van de Velde (left) has caused controversy. Photograph: David Davies/PA

    Earlier this week the International Olympic Committee faced calls for an investigation into how the player had been allowed to compete at Paris 2024. In an email seen by the Guardian, a senior official with the Dutch Olympic Committee has insisted that Van de Velde was not a paedophile, in response to a concerned British man who lives in the Netherlands.

    The man had called the inclusion of Van de Velde in the team 'a stain on the Dutch national side'. In a reply the Dutch Olympic committee spokesperson wrote: 'Steven is NOT a peadophile [sic]; you really don't think that de Dutch NOC would send someone to Paris who IS a real risk? No, he isn't a risk.'

    Van de Velde is understood have requested not to stay in the Olympic Village, and has been allowed to absent himself from post-match mixed zone interviews.

    The IOC has said that inclusion in competition is a matter for individual nation's Olympic committees. Asked if the IOC was 'comfortable and happy' with Van de Velde's involvement, its spokesman Mark Adams said: 'I think to characterise it as 'comfortable and happy' would not be correct.' He added: 'I think a crime occurred some time ago, 10 years ago. A great deal of rehabilitation has taken place, and there's very strong safeguarding in place also, and I believe … the athlete in question is not even staying in the village.'

    In a statement the Dutch Olympic Committee said it had put in place 'concrete measures' to ensure a safe sporting environment for all Olympics participants in light of Van de Velde's participation.

    It said Van de Velde had engaged with all requirements and had met stringent risk assessment thresholds, and stated that there is no risk of him reoffending. The committee said: 'Van de Velde has consistently remained transparent about the case which he refers to as the most significant misstep of his life. He deeply regrets the consequences of his actions for those involved. He has been open about the personal transformation he has undergone as a result.'

    It said it 'regretted' the 'unforeseen renewed attention, on social media in particular, for those struggling with trauma from sexual offences and transgressive behaviour'.

    The post Dutch child rapist greeted with boos — and applause — before Olympics loss appeared first on The Custom Reports.

    Source : https://thecustomreports.com/dutch-child-rapist-greeted-with-boos-and-applause-before-olympics-loss/

  • Odinga upbeat as Kenya set to formally submit AU bid #rwanda #RwOT

    The legendary Kenyan opposition leader made the remarks after signing the AUC Chair application documents on Saturday, July 27, 2024.

    'I signed off my AUC Chair application documents. We are focused on bringing the seat home for Kenya and serving the African people,' Odinga stated.

    Raila Odinga (center) signs the AUC Chair application documents on Saturday, July 27, 2024.

    Thereafter, Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary, Korir Sing’oei confirmed that all was set for the submission of Odinga’s application documents.

    'All-Set-Go!' Sing’oei captioned social media photos showing bundles of the documents set to be submitted to the AU Secretariat for consideration.

    August 6, 2024, is the deadline for submission of candidatures for the coveted continental job.

    Odinga, who previously served as African Union High Representative for Infrastructure Development, is seeking to succeed Chad’s Moussa Faki in elections slated for February 2025.

    He is among four renowned African leaders who have declared interest in the job. Others are former Seychelles Vice President Vincent Meriton, Djibouti’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Mahmoud Youssouf, and ex-Somali Foreign Minister Fawzia Yusuf.

    Huge Boost

    Odinga received a huge boost in his bid earlier this year when the African Union Executive Council unanimously resolved that candidates for the position of the next chairperson of the AU Commission would be nominated by the Eastern African regional states.

    Several African Heads of State, including President Paul Kagame and Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni have since expressed their support for Odinga to clinch the top job.

    Others are Samia Suluhu of Tanzania, Salva Kiir Mayardit of South Sudan, and Ghana’s Nana Akufo-Addo.

    Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera and his Zambian counterpart Hakainde Hichilema have also pledged to support Odinga’s bid.

    The chairperson of the AU Commission is the Chief Executive Officer of the African Union.
    The position is crucial in driving the Union’s agenda and representing the continent on the
    global arena.

    Candidates for the position are nominated by member states of the African Union. A high-level panel of eminent Africans is responsible for assessing and shortlisting the nominated candidates based on their qualifications, experience, and leadership abilities.

    The final election is conducted by the Assembly of the African Union, which comprises representatives from all member states. The election is held by secret ballot, and a two-thirds majority of eligible member states is required to elect the Chairperson.

    The successful candidate serves a four-year term, renewable once.

    Former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga is optimistic that he will emerge victorious in the race for the chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC).

    Wycliffe Nyamasege

    Source : https://en.igihe.com/politics-48/article/odinga-upbeat-as-kenya-set-to-formally-submit-au-bid