Bringing a Home of Cricket to Rwanda

‘Cricket’ and ‘Rwanda’ are not often words you hear spoken in the same sentence. You may not know it, but this has recently changed.

Since the end of the genocide in the 1990s, the popularity of cricket has been building in the country. Whilst living as refugees in former British colonies, Rwandans have been returning to their homeland with a keen interest in the sport – so much so that cricket has become the fastest growing sport in the country.

Find out more about the vision here; an inspiring story:

Over the part few years, the Rwanda Cricket Stadium Foundation (RCSF), a UK-based charity, have been doing all they can to support the game in Rwanda. It’s a cause that has touched the hearts of cricket fans around the world and has attracted the support of UK Prime Ministers, celebrity cricketers and the Royal Family alike. Press coverage is also widespread, with the BBC, The Telegraph, The Times, and more, publishing news about  the project.

 

Cricket is growing in popularity in Rwanda #fastestgrowingsport #cricketbuildshope

A post shared by RCSF (@rwandacricket) on Aug 8, 2017 at 9:26am PDT

The RCSF’s biggest project is the construction of the country’s first grass pitch. This has replaced the current one which is based on the site of one of the genocide’s most notorious massacres.

The project was completed with the official opening of the stadium on Saturday 28th October 2017. The day was marked by a celebrity T20 match between a Michael Vaughan-led XI and a Sam Billings-led XI. Throughout the week, Sporta Tours were closely involved in the  ‘Cricket Builds Hope’ Tournament, running the logistical arrangements . Sporta organised the flights, accommodation and on-ground logistics for teams such as Coutts Bank, Eton Ramblers and Yorkshire Tea, and it was an honour to be part of such a momentous event.

Uganda were victorious in the inaugural Cricket Builds Hope Tournament

See some of the highlights of the tournament