Cathia Uwamahoro

"I asked myself, why I couldn’t try. Then, I decided that I can push beyond the 24 hours and add two more hours"

"I am extremely happy to achieve this. It was a long journey, but finally all has ended well"

"Because of the love I gradually attained for cricket, I learnt the rules of the game pretty fast and I was able to play for the U19 National Team in Kenya in 2008. I was also able to play in 2010 and 2011 in Tanzania and I learnt a lot and gained more skills in all these region tournaments,"

"At first I didn’t like fielding because I was afraid of the ball hitting me but with time, I over came my fears and I can now field, bat and ball because it’s required as a team player."

"To me, cricket means more than just a sport, it’s also my source of hope. I was in despair, with no clear purpose of life before joining this beautiful sport,"

"I first got to witness cricket with my eyes in 2008 and I immediately picked interest. There was no women’s team then, so I started training with the boys, which I believe help me adapt quickly,"

"After that the tournament, I realised my potential and decided to the take the game more seriously. By then, cricket in Rwanda was still at a low level and we performed poorly but I was very happy to represent my country,"

"“I received overwhelming support and broke down when I remembered how I used to sit alone with my mother in our house in Gisozi. Many people congratulating me from Rwanda and abroad was both humbling and inspiring,”"

"My dreams are taking my country team in international cricket champion games and playing cricket in countries like England and Australia."

"It’s having a hand in the construction of Rwanda’s first ever cricket stadium and having been able to inspire young girls to join cricket because ever since I joined the number of girls have increased as well as female cricket clubs."