The Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA) has invited six Under-20 national teams to take part in this year’s Genocide Memorial Football Tournament slated from June, 17-19 in Kigali. According to FERWAFA, six invitations were sent last Friday to Gabon, Ethiopia, Congo, South Africa, Cote d‘Ivoire and Morocco respectively. “We want to commemorate our people (over a million Rwandans) who were slain during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi,” FERWAFA president Vincent Nzamwita said. The first edition of the memorial tournament staged last year was played in a round-robin format, attracting four countries namely Kenya, South Sudan, Tanzania and hosts Rwanda. The tournament also serves to commemorate players who were killed during the Genocide. So far, over 70 former players have been identified to have been killed in the Genocide and these are mainly from Mukura Victory Sport, SC Kiyovu, Rayon Sports, Etincelles and Mukungwa. The Genocide claimed a big number of players, coaches, administrators and fans across Rwandan sports, but it is believed that Mukura was hit hardest by the tragedy.
