Goalkeeper Emmanuel Nyandwi was the hero of the day as he saved three spot-kicks in penalty shoot-out to guide the Rwamagana-based Police Training School (PTS) to a hard-fought 3-2 win over the Western region in the final of the inaugural Rwanda National Police inter-unit football tournament.

The Western region broke the deadlock six minutes to the final whistle but their hopes dealt a blow in the dying minutes of normal time when PC Sylvain Dukuzumuremyi headed-in a Justin Kamanzi free-kick for the equalizer.

There was no extra as they went straight into penalties after either side failed to produce tangible results despite having a number of chances to score more goals inside the 90 minutes.

Sylvain Dukuzumuremyi, Kitoko Makome and team captain Justin Kamanzi converted the PTS penalties while goalkeeper Nyandwi saved from Western region’s Mark Nteziryimana, Jean Pierre Nsengiyumva and captain Charles Ndahimana.

Only Elie Jerome Kanamugire and Carixte Niyomugabo score for the Western region team.

Nyandwi was the man of the match while his teammate, Dukuzumuremyi emerged the top scorer of the tournament that featured 12 teams, with six goals. Both finalists also received certificates of merit.

The competition was organized by RNP as part of its sports development programme, health and fitness of police officers, social welfare and talent search.

The Minister of Internal Security, Sheikh Musa Fazil Harerimana, who was the Guest of Honor at the match, congratulated the winners and thanked all teams that participated in the month-long tournament.

He thanked Rwanda National Police for organizing the competition, noting that it fulfills the government policy on sports development and healthy.

"Such competitions are good for police officers to display their talents outside policing, and they depict the kind of security we enjoy. You cannot go into such social activities when there’s insecurity,” Minister Harerimana said.

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