Mukura to organise memorial tournament

Primus National Football League side Mukura Victory Sports is set to organise a memorial tournament to commemorate footballers, who were killed during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.According to club secretary Olivier Mulindahabi, the memorial tournament will be held in either late June or early July.Mulindahabi said, “We hope to organize a four-team tournament at the end the national football league season and the MTN Peace tournament.”Mulindahabi noted that those that will be remembered include their footballers, fans, club administrators as well as individuals connected to the club in one way or another, who passed away during the 100-day tragedy that claimed lives of over a million Rwandans.The national football league will end on May 15 while the MTN Peace Cup tourney will climax on July 4, and Mukura is in contention for those two trophies.“We have prepared everything but we are yet to agree on the dates because we are still in contention for the two competitions. We plan to invite three clubs to spice the tournament.He further added, “We hope to have a documentary on the club’s history as well as an album for the players, who were killed during the Tutsi Genocide,” says Mulindahabi adding that they will also hold a mini-expo to showcase different activities that the club is involved in.The Huye-based side that lost a host of players and officials as well as fans during the Genocide, stands in second position on the Primus league standings with 35 points in 18 matches played this season.Fallen players and fans who will be remembered include; Modeste Busarabwe, Joseph Ndakaza, Jean Baptista Karungire, Felicien Ngango, Martin Rutegaziga, Camille Kayihura, Justin Rusingwa Justin Alias Gaturira, Theophile Rutagengwa, Musisi, Paul and Alphonse.Others are; Paul Gakuba, Evariste Kamugunga, Athanase Kayitakire, Laurent Kaberanya, Masabo and Pierre Nsonera.Mukura has been organising the memorial tournament since 1995 but in last couple of years, the event has been in a limbo due to lack of finances.In a related development, the local football body, Ferwafa, will also for the first time organise a memorial competition next year according to federation president Celestin Ntagungira.“It was not possible to hold this kind of tournament before but we will put it into consideration for next year,” confirmed Ntagungira.Since 1994, Ferwafa is among the sporting federations that have never held Genocide commemoration tournament. Federations that have tried to hold such kind of tournaments despite financial constraints include basketball, volleyball and handball.