Munanira leads clan procession

By Douglas Mazune DEFENDING champion Isaac Munanira's family is targeting a clean sweep of the New Vision International. Munanira and his siblings, U-14 champion Simon Rugenza and Rebecca Kangabe are favoured in the main, U-14 and ladies categories respectively. And, if you are tracing the roots of their success, you might want to know that their father, the late Elija Muniragaba, was twice Makerere University champion in the 1960s. Munanira, a freshman at Makerere, said he expected as stiff a challenge as he had last year when he beat Shadrack Kaninti on tie-break. "This year's event will be tougher, but I will try my best," Munaira said. "I have been studying and others have had enough time to prepare." His main rivals could have an edge, having recently played in the World Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey, but Munanira is undeterred. "They are tough and have the international exposure," he said, "but I have been playing with them here and we know each other so well." About the family affair, the 20-year-old champion said: "May be my sister and brother are more likely to win; it won't be easy for me." Their elder brother Alex Ruzigura, a chess enthusiast and one-time player, is confident their family will win a significant chunk of the sh2m at stake in prizes. "I don't see anyone beating Rebecca and Rugenza in their categories but Munanira's case is a bit tricky because there is big contest with many good players out there," Ruzigura said. We shall see! Ends