Reviving sport and culture dynamism

In partnership with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the Burundian University Sport Federation (FEBUSU) has recently organized sport competitions in various disciplines in its program of boosting inter-university sport activities (14 Sept 2103) – By Yves Didier Irakoze

David Niyukuri: “We have realized that our students are talented and have good performance. Then, we want to boost Sport in different universities of our country in order to motivate them.” ©Iwacu

According to David Niyukuri, Chairman of FEBUSU, the main objective of those competitions is to make a revival of sport and culture dynamism between universities. “We also organize inter-university friendly matches to prepare the University Championship that will take place in January 2014 when local winners are going to meet other sportsmen from East African universities,” states Niyukuri.
As a matter of fact, he says that football and volleyball matches between the University of Burundi and Great Lakes University have been organized this Saturday in Mutanga Campus at the University of Burundi. In volleyball, the University of Burundi has won 3 set to 1 of Great Lakes University while in football the University of Burundi has also defeated 2 goals to 0 (nil) the Great Lakes University.
Niyukuri adds that players have improved very much since the beginning of the competitions in the country.
“The “Universiades” (University World Games) supports us financially once in two years. For instance, it paid for the trips, stays and all the charges for 2 athletes respectively Irankunda Lena Courageuse from the “Université Lumière” in swimming competition and Vianney Ntaconayigize from INITELEMATIQUE in Judo competition , 1 coach OPC2 Cassien Kabura and Chairman of the delegation at Kazan in Russia from 3 to21July 2013,” points out Niyukuri.
He reminds that these kinds of disciplines will also be an opportunity in October this year to select athletes who will represent Burundi at Kampala in Uganda in March 2014.
“We have realized that our students are talented and have good performance. Then, we want to boost Sport in different universities of our country in order to motivate them,” declares Niyukuri.

All interested people appreciate the initiative

According to Onésime Nzambimana, Academic Secretary in Charge of Sport at Great Lakes University, sports enable students to fulfill their own potential physical aptitudes and in doing so, they provide the visibility of their academic institutions they represent. Thereafter, those latter become known not only for their academic deeds but also for their talented sportsmen or athletes.
“Through sports, players get much experience and develop their relations with their fellow students. It is worth confirming that the new initiative will help more students to train hard and in the future they may represent Burundi in the region or in the world. So, they will widespread the image of the country,” points out Nzambimana.
He suggests that the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and the one of Youth, Sport and Culture work hand in hand to support the program and the idea very strongly.

Much effort should be undertaken

In particular, Niyukuri thanks the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Rectors of different universities, the Officer in Charge of Logistics at the University of Burundi for their support and participation in the competition.
Nzambimana concludes that universities, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture should help universities organize these kinds of championships more carefully in seeking sponsorship from private companies and institutions for the revival of sports in all the Universities of Burundi.