Six teams to grace Genocide memorial tournament

Rwanda Football Association (FERWAFA) will organize the second Genocide memorial tournament, which will bring together CECAFA member countries, next month.

Sunday, April 10, 2016
Amavubi midfielder Jean-Claude Iranzi in action against Kenya during the inaugural Genocide memorial tourney last year. (File)

Rwanda Football Association (FERWAFA) will organize the second Genocide memorial tournament, which will bring together CECAFA member countries, next month.

According to FERWAFA president Vincent Nzamwita, Amavubi will use the tournament to remember the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi,​and also prepare for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Mozambique, which is scheduled for June 4 in Kigali and away against Ghana in September.​​

Nzamwita said, "We hope to have six or more teams for this year’s tournament as we need to the national team to use these matches to prepare for the Mozambique qualifier.”

Nzamwita noted that those that will be remembered include former footballers, fans, administrators as well as individuals connected to local football in one way or another, who passed away during the 100-day tragedy that claimed lives of over a million Rwandans.

"We have prepared almost everything but we are yet to agree on the dates. We plan to invite teams from the CECAFA region as well as Gabon and Morocco. Uganda has agreed to be with us, and we are waiting for confirmation from Kenya, Sudan, Burundi and Tanzania,” he revealed.

Last year’s inaugural edition had four teams including hosts Rwanda, Kenya, South Sudan and Tanzania, who played against each in a round-robin.

During the commemoration week, public lectures and meetings will be conducted at village level and no form of sports and entertainment takes place. Flags in the country also fly at half-mast during the commemoration period.

Meanwhile, FERWAFA has put out an announcement seeking to recruit a new national technical director to replace Lee Johnson, who resigned in April last year.

The person should be able to deliver and manage youth development programs; proven ability to develop and implement player analysis tools to enhance performance and support development.

He should also have the ability to organize, plan, manage and deliver multiple projects to meet key performance indicators. Managing coaches to adhere, challenge, embrace and deliver short, mid and long term player development programs.

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