Browsing Tag Monday

Rwanda men’s U-18 Basketball team endured another painful defeat against Ghana on Monday as the boys lost 43-48, to record their third successive defeat at the ongoing Afrobasket U-18 Men’s Championship in Maputo, Mozambique.

The loss brings the morale of the whole team down, having started brilliantly against hosts Mozambique by thrashing them 62-34 on the opening day of the championship. They then went on to lose against Tunisia 38-43 and Mali 33-46. The final fixture in the group will be against the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The championships which kicked off August 16^th will run until 25^th the same month.

 

 

The U.S. women’s basketball team, evoking memories of the men’s Dream Team of 1992, put on a hoops masterclass in routing African champions Angola 90-38 at the Olympics on Monday.

It took a little while for the Americans to get in synch, but once they did the reigning four-times Olympic champions put on a fastbreak show to extend their Games winning streak to 35 matches.

The last time the U.S. women lost at an Olympics was 20 years ago in Barcelona when they came away with the bronze at the same Games where the newly-invited NBA stars swept to the gold beginning with a 116-48 romp over Angola’s men’s team.

Candace Parker led a balanced U.S. attack with 14 points on Monday while Sonia Guadalupe was top scorer for Angola with 10 points as they lost again in their second outing.

The game ended the second day of competition in the women’s tournament, with France’s stirring 74-70 overtime upset of Australia the highlight of the day.

That gave the French a 2-0 record while dropping triple silver medallists Australia to 1-1.

Britain (0-2) had the Olympic Basketball Arena rocking with support from the home crowd for most of the game before they faded at the end to lose 73-65 against Canada (1-1).

China improved to a 2-0 record with an easy 83-58 win against Croatia; Russia (2-0) won 69-59 against Brazil (0-2), and Turkey (2-0) won 61-57 over the Czech Republic (0-2).

 

 

 

Algeria’s women’s volleyball coach George Strumilo did not mince his words after his side lost 3-0 to Japan as Olympics volleyball action got under way at Earls Court on Saturday.

 

“It was a bit of a disaster, especially in the last set,” the Pole told Reuters after a 25-15 25-14 25-7 loss in a one-sided Pool A match played out in front of a less-than-full venue despite signs saying the session was sold out.

 

“They were too good for us, especially in the last set,” he added. “It’s very difficult for us to compete here against these kinds of teams with such an inexperienced squad.

 

“In the last set there was a sense of resignation in our players. All we can do now is say ‘today wasn’t important’ and motivate the players to play better.”

 

Algeria’s young squad, ranked 16th in the world, looked relieved as they walked off court still searching for their first victory in major championships, having lost every match they have played in the world championships and Olympics.

 

Monday’s match against hosts Britain, who are making their debut at this level, is already looking like a playoff to avoid finishing last.

 

Algerian blocker Lydia Oulmou said of Monday’s clash with the hosts: “We are technically stronger than Britain but we don’t know the team very well. We are going to try to win.”

 

Reigning Olympic women’s champions Brazil begin their group matches later against Turkey.

 

 

Upcoming Rwandan teenager basketball player Jonathan Rutare passed away in the United States of America on Monday night.

 

Rutare who plays for Tampa Bay Christian School in Florida died mysteriously and the cause of his death has been linked to a heart attack though no autopsy report had confirmed it by press time.

 

The 17-year old, who was part of the U-18 team that represented Rwanda in the zone V U-18 qualifiers in 2010 where the national team finished 6th, had been in the U.S for only six months.

 

He was set to join his teammates preparing for this year’s Zone V Qualifiers slated for July 17-26, according to Moise Mutokambari, the national team assistant coach.

 

Mutokambari said that the death of Rutare has shocked everyone.

 

“It is so sad that we have lost a promising player, who was the future of basketball in this country. We had expected to use his experience in bolstering our squad but it is unfortunate that he died so suddenly, he will be dearly missed” said Mutokambari.

 

The junior hoops failed to train on Monday after learning the sudden death of their team mate and on Tuesday, the whole team observed a minute of silence to remember their fallen colleague.

 

It is the second time in two months that the country has lost two of its sports players suddenly. Last month Amavubi defender Patrick Mafisango died in a horrific car crash in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.