Rwanda National Police

The Rwanda National Police (RNP) handball club is ready to defend the national heroes’ tournament when it gets underway this weekend.

This year’s tournament will be hosted by Ecole Secondaire Kigoma in Ruhango District.

The reigning National Handball League champions Police lifted the Heroes cup last year when they defeated St. Alloys Rwamagana 34-23 in the men’s finals.

Apega Gahengeri defeated ES Mukingi 13-12 to lift the women’s title.

With all local clubs eligible to participate in the two-day annual competition, the local handball federation said the full list of participating teams in both men and women categories will be unveiled this Thursday, its Secretary General, Jean Paul Ngarambe said.

Police Handball Club coach, AIP Antoine Ntabanganyimana said the team is “ready for any competition.”

“We signed three new players and we have been training and organizing ourselves for both the Heroes Day cup and the 2016 national league,” said AIP Ntabanganyimana.

The new signings are right-winger Jean Nepomuscene from St. Aloys Rwamagana, center-back Jean Luis Munezero from APR and former Nyakabanda goal-keeper Placide Mutangana.

The national league that gets underway on March 5 will feature 12 clubs up from 10 league slots in previous seasons.

The new entrants include University of Rwanda, Nyarugege campus and Kibogora Polytechnic from Nyamasheke district.