Mount Kigali University (MKU) will sponsor an inter-secondary school football tournament, which had been interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. 14 secondary schools from Kigali have confirmed their participation in the three-day event, scheduled to take place from March 14 to March 16. The matches will be hosted at Kagarama Playground in Kicukiro and Red Cross Grounds in Kacyiru, providing a competitive platform for young footballers to showcase their skills. This tournament is part of our broader commitment to promoting sports as an essential pillar of education. We believe in giving young athletes a platform to showcase their talent, and this initiative will help us identify and support future stars, Dr Martin Kimemia, Vice Chancellor, said. He further emphasised the importance of sports in youth development, adding, At MKU, we see sports as a vehicle for discipline, teamwork, and leadership. Our goal is to create an environment where students can grow academically while excelling in extracurricular activities. Emmanuel Manyange Ochako, the university’s sports coordinator, confirmed that the tournament is set to become an annual event and that plans are underway to expand its reach beyond Kigali. We believe this tournament is an important platform for young players to showcase their abilities. Our long-term goal is to extend this initiative to different parts of Rwanda, providing more students with the opportunity to develop their football skills, Manyange stated. He also highlighted the tournament’s broader impact: Sports play a crucial role in education and personal growth. We want to help young athletes not only excel in football but also gain valuable life skills through teamwork, discipline, and fair play. Innocent Bigiyobyenda, Dean of Students at Kagarama Secondary School, applauded the initiative and thanked Mount Kigali University for its continued support in promoting young talent. We have always valued our partnership with Mount Kigali University in various community-centred activities. This tournament is a remarkable initiative that not only nurtures talent but also fosters a spirit of camaraderie and sportsmanship among students from different schools. It provides young athletes with an opportunity to compete, learn, bond and grow in character, Bigiyobyenda said. The inter-secondary football tournament started in 2018 with GS Remera becoming the first winner. The tournament was initially meant to be hosted annually but was put on hold. It now looks to restart to be expanded to schools outside Kigali city.
