Leandre Willy Onana, a Cameroonian striker for local football club Rayon Sports, has said the international community should stop taking for granted or trivialising the tragic history of what Rwanda went through during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
The 23-year-old forward was with the Blues’ group of players, staff and members of fan clubs who visited Ntarama Genocide Memorial on Wednesday, April 13, where they paid tribute to victims laid to rest at this memorial site in Bugesera District.
The church of Ntarama was converted into a genocide memorial on April 14, 1995, and is the final resting place for more than 5,000 victims who were slaughtered at the church.
One of Rwanda’s six National Genocide Memorial Sites, Ntarama contains human remains, clothing, and artifacts belonging to those who were killed at the church, which remain on display at all times.
After the tour, Onana could only share sad reflexes on what he witnessed inside the Catholic church-cum-memorial as he calls for the world to show support and kindness to Rwandans, especially during the commemoration period.
"It is really unfortunate what happened here 28 years ago, I am sad and shocked,” Onana said. "We used to study this [Genocide against the Tutsi] at school but not with enough details that I just learned of at this memorial today.”
"It was my first time seeing such a thing like this. It was horrible and I pray that this never happens to this country or anywhere else again,” he added.
Onana also heaped praise on how the Rwandan leadership and Rwandans managed to overcome the tragedy and rebuild the country from the ashes. He also underlined the role football played in building unity and social cohesion after the Genocide.
"Football unites so many people and I hope that, through this game, people will keep to be more united. With unity, I am proud of the progress Rwanda is making in different sectors of development and my wish is to see this nation only getting better,” he said.
Rayon Sports is one of the football clubs whose players, staff and fans were killed during the Genocide against the Tutsi.
Prominent players who were killed include Raphael Murekezi alias Fatikaramu, Rongin Munyurangabo, Kirangi, Rutabingwa, Charles Kayombya, and Antoine Nyirurugo.