Karate federation to honour ‘1994 victims’

THE national Karate federation is set to organize a tournament in memory of victims of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. The one-day event dubbed ‘Never Again’ will be held on April 25 at Amahoro indoor stadium.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

THE national Karate federation is set to organize a tournament in memory of victims of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.

The one-day event dubbed ‘Never Again’ will be held on April 25 at Amahoro indoor stadium.

The technical director of the National Karate Federation Guy Rurangayire told Times Sport that the 13th edition of the tourney is also dedicated to help Karate players who may have been directly or indirectly affected by the anarchy.

"Though the event is largely dedicated to our friends who perished during the killings, we also want to use this opportunity to comfort those who survived the horrific massacres.”

"It is a very trying time for them but this sport (Karate) also teaches people about the importance of Unity and Reconciliation.”

Some of the players who lost their lives during the genocide include Jean Marie Vianney Kalisa, Emmanuel Kamali, Theodre Kamayire, Jean Pierre Kabarira and Innocent Gahamanyi.

Ten clubs are expected to take part in the one day event and they include: Samurai, Kaisho, APR, Kensei, Aigle, Hantei, Lion, Mamaru, Nyamagabe and UNR. Meanwhile,
Rurangayire told this paper that with effect from next year, they plan to invite teams from the region.

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