Combat Training Centre Gabiro football team concluded the 2024-2025 RDF Inter-Force Sports Competition with a trophy after defeating the Special Operations Force (SOF) 4-3 on penalties in a final football match held at Kigali Pele Stadium on Friday, January 31. The tournament, which served as a precursor to the National Heroes’ Day due to be celebrated on Saturday, February 1, attracted various guests including Minister of Defence Juvenal Marizamunda, Minister of State for Regional Integration in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Gen (Rtd) James Kabarebe, Minister of State for Sports, Rwego Ngarambe and RDF Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Mubarakh Muganga. Other officials who attended the football match include Reserve Force Chief of Staff, Maj Gen Alex Kagame, Rwanda Air Force Deputy Chief Staff, Brig Gen Godfrey Gasana as well as Déo Nkusi, the Executive Secretary of the Chancellery for Heroes, National Orders and Decorations of Honour (CHENO), among others. Neither side managed to find the back of the net in regulation time before Combat Training Centre Gabiro overcame SOF 4-3 in a penalty shootout. Speaking at the trophy awarding ceremony, Minister Marizamunda explained the importance of the competition, indicating its role in enhancing physical fitness, cohesion, comradeship, morale and the wining spirit within the RDF. The RDF Inter-Force Competition began at the unit level in November 2024, with both men and women competing in various disciplines namely football, basketball, volleyball, handball, netball, athletics, and shooting. Winners across different disciplines: Basketball: Special Operations Force (SOF) Volleyball: Republican Guard (RG) Handball: Rwanda Military Academy – Gako (RMA Gako) Netball: Rwanda Air Force (RAF) Shooting: Special Operations Force (SOF) Best Shooter 81-1: Cpl Anastase Mulisa (Military Police) Best Shooter with Pistol: S/Sgt Victor Mutangana (Republican Guard) Athletics 5000m: Sgt Claudette Mukasakindi (GHQ) Aside the sportsmanship, the best athletes are also selected to represent RDF in international military competitions.
