Tanzania handball team invited to Rwanda

TANZANIA is among five countries that have been invited to a two-day Genocide Memorial Tournament slated for June 6-7 in Kigali, Rwanda.

According to reports, the Rwanda National Handball Federation (Ferwahand) has sent invitations to Burundi, DR Congo, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.

Ferwahand secretary general Jean Paul Ngarambe believes that the participation of regional countries will make the tournament more competitive and teams from other countries will learn firsthand about the tragedy that befell Rwanda in 1994.

“This year’s edition will be a lot more competitive because of the participation of more teams from our region, but we also want them to learn about what happened to this country.

The teams will visit some memorial sites and be briefed about the dangers of bad leadership,” Ngarambe told ‘The New Times of Rwanda’.

The 21st Genocide commemoration week started last Tuesday and ended on Monday, but the 100 days of remembering will continue with activities honouring the victims through July 4.

The Rwandan Ministry of Sports and Culture last year urged all federations to organise memorial tournaments in honour of players, coaches, and administrators who were killed during the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.

The handball fraternity lost over 23 of their members including coaches, players, administrators and fans. They include Munyakayanza, Evariste Simbaburanga, Augustin Rutamu, Pierre Claver Nsabimana, Augustin Ndikubwimana, Vital Uwitibagiwe, Emile Uwihirwe (Zaza), Léonard Hakizimana, Charles Shumbusho, Evariste Nsengiyumva, Ndaruhutse, Eugène Munyambano and Kabera, all from Zaza.

Others are Ernest Muhinda, François Rwayitare, Paul Mutabaruka, Augustin Hakizimana, Rubingisa Paul, Lambert Munyensanga, Agatha Kayirege, Virgile Uwimana, Murangira Charles and Claude, from National University of Rwanda. Last year Police Handball Club won the tourney after beating Muzinga of Burundi 35-34.