Boys Pool A: Kiziguro Football Center, Gahini, Gatsibo Football Academy and Nyagatare Pool B: Kayonza, Rwinkwavu, Amizero and Gahara Pool C: Rwamagana Football Training Center, Karenge FFC, AS Bugesera and Musha Girls Abarashi, Murama, Kayonza and Agahozo The third edition of the annual Airtel Rising Stars (ARS) U-17 football Championships starts today in the Eastern Province. Twenty-eight matches in total, 21 in boys’ and 7 in girls’ categoriesrespectively will be played on Saturday and Sunday at three different venues namely; Rwamagana, Kayonza and Gatsibo. Happening every year since 2013, the 2015 edition was officially launched last Saturday at Police playgrounds in Rwamagana District in ceremonies graced by Aritel Rwanda Managing Director Teddy Bhullar and Amavubi legend Jimmy Mulisa among others. Mulisa is this year’s ARS ambassador. The Eastern Province zone is fielding 16 teams (12 boys’ and 4 girls’) in this year’s youth football competitions eyeing to retain the boys’ title won by Gatsibo Football Academy last year and possibly also bag the girls’ crown currently held by AS Kigali Academy. Twelve boys’ teams have been drawn into three pools with each made up of four while four girls’ sides are in one pool. Teams in each group will play against each other on a round-robin basis today vying for Sunday’s semi-finals and finals in Gatsibo District. Pool A matches will be hosted in Gatsibo while pool B will be Kayonza and Rwamagana will host pool C plus the girls’ matches. Les Lionceaux of Rubavu won the inaugural edition in boys’ tournament ad there was no girls’ competition that season.
