Jean Marie Ntagwabira Ex-Amavubi player and coach Jean Marie Ntagwabira was laid to rest yesterday at Kanombe military cemetery amidst pledges of support to his surviving family. Rwanda Football Association (Ferwafa) pledged to pay for the education of the late Ntagwabira’s children. “We will pay for the education of the orphans until they are able to fend for themselves,” Ferwafa president Vincent Nzamwita told mourners during the burial which was graced by hundreds of mourners including football players, fans, senior army officers and coaches. Senior army officers and other mourners hold a minute silence before burial. Ntagwabira, 41, who was a member of the Reserve Force at the rank of Captain, is survived by a widow and two children, both boys, aged 13 and six years respectively. He died on Monday after losing the battle to lung complications at Rwanda military hospital-Kanombe The Director of Sports in the Ministry of Sports Emmanuel Bugingo (R), Ferwafa president Vincent Nzamwita and Ferwafa vice president Vedaste Kayiranga lay wreaths. The Rwanda Defense Forces also pledged to assist the family of the deceased. Before the burial, Pastor Pacifique Karangwa of Christian Family Church led a requiem mass at the deceased’s home in Kagugu. Col.Geoffrey Kabagambe salutes during public viewing of the body at the deceased’s home in Kagugu The deceased’s son during burial All of the APR squad was at the burial Meanwhile, all national football league clubs will observe a minute of silence before kickoff of league matches this weekend and players will wear black armbands, as a mark of respect for the fallen sportsman. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
