On March 6, 2025, an encouragement reception was held at the Grand Legacy Hotel for the Rwandan Golf Sheroes Project (RGSP) athletes, or “Sheroes (female heroes)” and about 30 people attended, including Hon. Ms. Nelly MUKAZAIRE, Minister of Sports, Ms. Juliana Kangeli MUGANZA, Deputy CEO of RDB, Japanese investors, as well as Н.E. Mr. Isao FUKUSHIMA, Ambassador of Japan to Rwanda.
The RGSP is an initiative of the Japanese company “Golf Sheroes Management”, which aims to train Rwandan female professional golfers who can compete on the world’s top tours, under the slogan “social transformation by using sports in Africa”. Mr. NODA, Co-Managing Director of the RGSP, has been moving forward with the help of Rwandan Government. Mr. YIWHAN, Co-Managing Director and Head Coach, used to be the captain of Korean national golf team, and raised a lot of world top players.
Together with Sheroes, they have been working hard toward the ultimate goal of being selected in the first ever Rwandan national team for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic
The project began in July 2024, and from the 80 candidates who took part of the recruitment process, only six Sheroes who had grown up in unprivileged family were selected as trainees. Driven by these challenges, they have been working hard from zero. Their achievements so far show that they are de facto players of the Rwanda National Team, winning the Rwanda Open and ranked 14th place in the Amateur Ladies Open held in Nigeria, both held in February this year, as examples. The flourish of Sheroes will give hope to Rwandan women who are in similar and difficult circumstances.
Mr. NODA said: “The sheroes team will travel to Japan and South Korea at the end of March for hard trainings for six months. Thanks to the efforts of everyone involved, especially the Rwanda Golf Federation and the Ministry of Sports, we have been able to come this far. The success of Sheroes will be a historic achievement that will shed light on the sporting talents of women, which have not been given much attention until now. We would be grateful for the continued understanding and support of everyone involved.”
Sylvie, representing the Sheroes, made a pledge to do their best during the upcoming training in Japan and South Korea.
Hon. MUKAZAIRE said: “We share the mission of the RGSP, and the Ministry of Sports is also supporting this project. The success of the Sheroes will also contribute to the development of the golf industry in Rwanda. I wish the Sheroes all the best in their training in Japan and Korea.”
Finally, Ambassador FUKUSHIMA said: “The Sheroes have worked hard, driven by such difficulties as poverty and prejudice. The beauty of sports is that everyone has the potential to succeed regardless of their circumstances, and this project embodies it.
The Sheroes’ success will encourage all Rwandan women and give them hope” He wished them all the best and success of the project. (End)