The Mount Kenya University Inter-Secondary School football tournament ended on high as GS Gatenga and GS Camp Kanombe clinched titles in boys and girls categories, respectively. The tournament concluded last Sunday at Kagarama SS in Kicukiro. Camp Kanombe lifted the title in girls’ category after edging GS Kicukiro 1-0 in the final while GS Gatenga overcame GS Remera Protestant 5-3 in penalty shoots following a 1-all draw in regular time. The finals event was graced by the Mayor of Kicukiro District, Dr Jeanne Nyirahamana and the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Mount Kenya University Rwanda (MKUR), Dr. John Nyirigira. With a total 24 Schools in the competition, the tournament was organized by MKUR with the aim of empowering generations through sports and sensitizing the youth on good governance. Kicukiro Mayor applauded the university for its commitment to promote sports in the country as well as sensitizing the youth on anti-corruption, injustice, drug abuse, developing a culture of saving, forging unity and reconciliation among other areas of concern. “As a knowledge hub, Kicukiro is proud of the presence of MKUR in the district and your contribution to capacity building and programmes that enhance socio-economic development,” said Dr. Nyirahamana in her remarks during the event. “Today’s activity is one good example adding up to many such as clean-up activities (Muganda), giving scholarships to needy students, donating cows to the poor (Girinka) and improvement of access to roads,” the mayor added. During the ceremony, Dr. Nyirigira thanked the founder and Chairman, board of directors, Prof Simon Gicharu for supporting the initiative to promote sports in the country. In a speech read on his behalf, Prof Gicharu said,’ MKUR will increasingly sponsor sports amongst the youth in order to develop talent with plans to start a sports academy in Kicukiro.” “As a university, we are committed to holistic youth development, because what happens to our youth outside the classroom is equally as important as what happens inside. Professional sports have become a good way of making a sustainable living. Some of the highest paid people in the world today are professional athletes. Lionel Messi, the Barcelona star whom you all know earns 550 million Rwandan francs every week, just for playing football.” However, he urged youths not to replace education with sports, arguing that the former has no age limit and always comes in handy when one is old and unable to compete at the highest level. MKUR also supported the participating teams with kits during the tournament. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
