The management and players and supporters of Rayon Sports on Saturday, April 8, paid a visit to Nyanza Genocide Memorial Centre in Kicukiro District to honor Tutsi victims laid to rest at the site.
Led by club president Jean Fidèle Uwayezu, the team took a 30-minute walk to remember from New Life Bible Church-Kigali to the memorial site which is home to over 105,000 Tutsi victims.
During the visit, Uwayezu said that it’s a responsibility for such a big club like Rayon Sports, arguably the most supported in Rwanda, to not only pay tribute to the victims killed during the Genocide against the Tutsi but to also spread peace and love among Rwandans.
"On behalf of the Rayon Sports family, I would like to tell Genocide survivors to be strong. It is our history, it happened. We, the Rayon Sports community, are with you and we promise that we will fight to make sure this never happens again," Uwayezu said.
"The sports fraternity is there to spread peace and love because, after all we do, sports unite us. Sports is not war but rather love,” he added.
Since 2013, every year, the club has been holding a special commemoration activity to honor former players, administrators and supporters killed during the Genocide against Tutsi.
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Some of the Rayon faithful killed during the Genocide against the Tutsi include players like Innocent Kalisa, Charles Kayomba, Longin Munyurangabo, Raphael Murekezi Alias Fatikaramu, Theodate Gakwaya, Anastase Buregeya (Masaka), Francois Kamali, Abba Hatangimana and Wellars Mugwaneza.
The club also remembers administrators killed during the Genocide including Marcel Ramutsa, Carpophore Kamanzi, Benoit Mujejende, Vianney Gatari (terrible), Selesi Kayomba, Jean Pierre Ntaganira, Ignace Rulinda, Fidel Mutaganda, Oscar Gasana, Janvier Rutagambwa, Anatole Ngizwenayo and Justin Viateur Niyongira.
The Blues also honor supporters who were killed during the Genocide including Francois Nyamaswa and Innocent Gusenga among others.
Rayon’s commemoration activity followed that of Bugesera FC whose management and players paid tribute to Tutsi victims laid to rest at Nyamata Genocide Memorial on Friday, April 7.