Rwanda National Police

The Police Handball Club head couch, Assistant Inspector of Police Antoine Ntabaganyimana said his side is in high spirits to retain the Genocide Memorial Cup.

The tournament is slated for this weekend on June 6 – June 7 in Kigali and it feature clubs from Burundi, Tanzania, DR Congo, Uganda and Kenya.

The club has proved too strong so far and brushed off all its opponents this year, thus maintaining a 100 percent record in the national league and winning all the trophies in the other three local tournaments played so far this season.

On Thursday June 4, the club overcame the University of Rwanda College of Art and Social Sciences (UR-CASS), with a score of 48-18, creating a three point margin on top of the log with only one game to go before the conclusion of the first round of the national league.

One of the most talented players in the side is Jean Baptiste Habimana, acknowledged by the other players and coaches as an exemplary figure to others both on and off the playground.

This current superb form puts Police in a good position ahead of the Genocide Memorial Cup.

“We are ready to compete and defend the trophy. We won the Genocide Memorial Cup last year and we have everything it takes to defend the title. The players are motivated and in good spirits, having won all their games this year,” coach Ntabaganyimana, said.

“There are many good clubs that will participate – so we have to be physically and mentally ready to face them. The players have indicated that they are capable of playing at a high tempo and even if they have achieved a lot, they are still hungry to win more.”

The Genocide Memorial Tournament is held in remembrance of over 23 lives of players and coaches who were murdered during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

Police won the tournament last year after beating Muzinga of Burundi 35-34 in the finals.