The national Goalball championship kicks off this Saturday at the National University of Rwanda Gymnasium. Goalball is a football competition played by the visually impaired. It involves two teams with three players on each side.

The two-day tournament will merge nine teams, which include; defending champions Groupe scolaire Gahini, Nyarugenge blind sport club, HVP Nyanza Gatagara, Kigali Institute of Education (KIE), Masaka, Huye Gatagara, ACPJNV,  Abadahigwa Blind veterans club and hosts  (UNR).

The event is organised by the National Paralympics Committee and the NPC president Dominique Bizimana has predicted a very competitive event.

"This year’s Goalball tournament will be very competitive and exciting because local coaches have just come from a coaches’ clinic and I’m sure we shall see us of that knowledge this weekend,” he said.

The clinic was conducted by Mike Russchen, a Dutch professor for people with visual disabilities.

Russchen is also the head coach of the Netherlands national Goalball team.

The championship will serve as a selection ground for the national team ahead of a regional goal ball tourney in Kenya later this year.

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