Rwandan champions, APR Handball Club, have stepped up preparations as they bid to win the club’s historic first Genocide Memorial Tournament (GMT) title come June 16-17.

Last year, Police Handball Club retained the Genocide Memorial Cup for a fourth consecutive time after beating APR 36-21 in the final. Uganda’s Police Handball Club overcame Gorillas of Rwanda, 25-17, to win the women’s title.

Speaking to Times Sport, APR head coach Anaclet Bagirishya revealed that his side is in high spirits and has intensified preparations ahead of the 5th handball GMT competition.

"We are looking forward to the tournament. We are preparing hard and every player is ready, we are challenging for the title in every tournament we engage ourselves in this season. But importantly, we want to the memorial tournament for the first time,” Bagirishya said.

When asked the opponents his side is worried about, the former Police handball coach replied that, "We will prepare and face each opponent with the same vigour, we don’t intend to undermine anyone. My players understand that and are ready to deliver.”

According to Rwanda Handball Federation, Ferwahand, a record 33 teams have registered to compete at this year’s in Genocide memorial tournament.

Matches of the two-day annual competition will be hosted at four different venues namely; Amahoro Stadium, Kimisagara Youth Centre, University of Rwanda – College of Business and Economics (CBE), and UR – College of Education (CoE) courts.

Over 20 members of the handball fraternity including; players, coaches, fans and administrators, are known to have been killed during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, which claimed over one million lives in just a hundred days.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw