NATIONAL HANDBALL league reigning champions Gicumbi and Ruhango district-based club ES Kigoma cruised to easy wins over the weekend.  Gicumbi beat new league entrants Saint Aloys Rwamagana 35-21 while second-placed ES Kigoma beat Nyakabanda 31-24 in Ruhango.  In another match, GS Rambura beat UR-Huye 25-12.

Gicumbi head coach Ebenezer Murenzi said: "Our major target is to retain the league title. This victory was very crucial and we want to continue in this path so that we can be a powerhouse in Rwanda’s handball,”  Holders Gicumbi lead the standings with 14 points, one point ahead of first runners-up ES Kigoma.  Police lie in third spot with 12 points while Saint Aloys Rwamagana are in fourth position with 11 points.  Over the weekend, Women’s championship kicked off with GS Mwendo narrowly beating UR-CE 8-6.  

The women championship has three clubs, namely GS Mwendo, UR-CE and ES Mukingi. University of Rwanda’s College of Arts and Social Sciences, APEGA Gahengeri and Gorillas have all pulled out of this year’s edition.  editorial@newtimes.co.rw