Volleyball fraternity to remember fallen colleagues

RWANDA Volleyball Federation has confirmed that this year’s Genocide memorial tournament will be played in June, but the dates have not been fixed, according to the federation’s General Secretary Gertrude Kubwimana.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

RWANDA Volleyball Federation has confirmed that this year’s Genocide memorial tournament will be played in June, but the dates have not been fixed, according to the federation’s General Secretary Gertrude Kubwimana."It has been agreed that the tournament be held in June although the dates have not yet been set.  We plan to invite teams from neighbouring countries” she said.The Rwanda Volleyball Federation is one of the few federations that organise memorial tournaments in tribute to the players, coaches, officials and fans, who lost their lives during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi that left over a million Rwandans dead and tens of thousands more orphaned, widowed or maimed.Some of the players, who will be remembered include: Iminamikore Benjimin (UNR Butare), Murekezi Regis (UNR Butare), Ntagugura Pracide (UNR Nyakinama), Ntagwabira Basile (UNR Nyakinama), Kumuyange Egide (UNR Nyakinama).Others are; Kaonji Casius (UNR Nyakinama), Kayiranga Egide (UNR Nyakinama), Hategekimana Emmanuel (UNR Nyakinama), Gasinzigwa Michel (UNR Nyakinama), Rutayisire Théoneste (UNR Nyakinama).They also include; Niyongira Justin (UNR Nyakinama), Kagenza Alphonse (UNR Nyakinama), Kayiranga Eric (GSOB), Gabiro Eugène (GSOB), Ngonga Sebalinda Dominique (GSOB), Butare Alfred Toto (GSOB).Rwagashayija Innocent (GSOB), Mukeshimana Martin (Buhiri today is Kigali Volleyball Club), Urimubenshi Venant (Buhiri now is Kigali Volleyball Club), Rukamba Jean Marie Vianney (Buhiri now is KVC), Mugandura Jean de la Croix (Buhiri now is KVC), Ntaganira Innocent (Buhiri now is KVC). Théogène Rwagahungu (Buhiri now is KVC), Hategekimana Innocent (Petit Séminaire Butare), Sebalinda Jules (Petit Séminaire Butare), Gakebuka Camile (Petit Séminaire Butare), Ngarambe Jean Marie Vianney (Petit Séminaire Butare).Tumukuze Jean Bosco (Petit Séminaire Butare), Rutiyomba Toussaint (Petit Séminaire Butare) Rutsindura Alphonse (Petit Séminaire Butare), Uwimana Abdallah (Petit Séminaire Butare), Rugira Marcellin (Minitransco), Gakwaya Vincent (Minitransco).Kayigamba André (Minitransco), Ngamije Esdras (Electrogaz), Rudandi Jean Pierre (Electrogaz), Kabagema Sosthène (Electrogaz), Rugira Jean Bosco (Kigoma), Kamazi M. Gorethe (Les Lionnes), Mignone (Les Lionnes).Karasira (Ouragan), Rugenera Landouard (College St André), Ugeziwe Berchmans (Petit Séminaire Ndera), Mugaragu William (Ecole des Sciences Byimana), Fraterne Rutayisire (Minijust), Murego Clément  (Groupe Scolaire Shyogwe).Kubwimana also disclosed that the federation is still doing further research in order to identify other people of the local volleyball fraternity, who died in the Genocide.She noted, "We are still doing research and asking if there are other players and fans, who died in the Genocide but we don’t have them on the list. We need to recognise them.”