THIS year’s national Heroes Day Handball Tournament is scheduled for February 3-4 at Kimisagara Youth Centre, according to Rwanda Handball Federation officials. The tourney will have both men and women categories.

APR are the defending champions while Gorillas are the defending champions in the women’s category.

According to the Secretary General Rwanda Handball Federation, Jean Paul Ngarambe, the tournament will be played over two days before the national handball league kickoff.  

"All the local handball clubs in men and women categories are supposed to participate, but we are waiting for their confirmation,” Ngarambe said.

Ngarambe added that the deadline for registration will be January 31, however the General Assembly will be held on January 6.

The clubs supposed to participate in the Heroes Day handball tournament are: holders APR, Police, ADEGI, ES Kigoma, St Aloys, Nyakabanda, Inyemeramihigo, ES Urumuri, UR-Huye and Groupe Scolaire Rambura in the men’s category.

Meanwhile, the women’s category includes Hanika Technical Secondary School (Nyanza district), Gorillas, University of Rwanda College of Education (Kigali), Groupe Scolaire Mayange, Ecole Secondaire Mukingi (Ruhango district), Duha Complex School and Appega Technical Secondary School (Rwamagana) and Groupe Scolaire Mwendo of Bugesera District.

APR won last year’s league title for the first time in eight years and went on to participate in the African Handball Champions League tournament in Hammamet, Tunisia where they finished bottom without winning a single game. The 2018 men’s handball national championship will kick-off on Febuary16.

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