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Police FC Beat APR FC on Penalties to Win 2026 Heroes Trophy

Mugisha R. John — 2026-02-02T07:53:05Z

Police FC claimed the 2026 Heroes Day Trophy after edging APR FC 7-6 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in regulation time Sunday night at Amahoro Stadium.

The match, played in front of a packed crowd, marked the third straight final between the two rivals in the annual Heroes Day tournament. Police FC won the title in 2024, APR FC lifted it in 2025, and Police reclaimed it this year.

APR FC struck first early in the second half. In the 54th minute, William Togui headed home from close range after Hakim Kiwanuka delivered a cross into the penalty area. APR pressed for a second goal and nearly doubled their lead six minutes later, but Police defender Nsabimana Eric, known as “Zidane,” cleared the ball off the goal line.

Police FC found an equalizer in the 68th minute after a defensive mix-up in the APR back line. Nshimiyimana Yunussu collided with goalkeeper Ishimwe Pierre, allowing Gakwaya Leonard to slot the loose ball into the net.

APR FC dominated much of the closing stages, creating several chances, but Police goalkeeper Rukundo Onesime produced key saves to keep the match level. With no winner after 90 minutes, the title was decided by a penalty shootout.

Police FC converted seven penalties, with David Chimezie, Iradukunda Simeon and Byiringiro Lague among the scorers. APR FC missed three spot kicks, including attempts by Togui and Dauda Yussif, sealing the victory for Police.

The win marked Police FC's second Heroes Trophy and the second title under coach Ben Moussa in his first season at the club. Police FC received 6 million Rwandan francs ($4,600) in prize money, while APR FC earned 3 million francs.

Earlier Sunday, Rayon Sports Women FC won the women's Heroes Trophy for the second straight year, defeating Indahangarwa Women FC 2-0. Goals from Emeline Murekatete and Angelique Umuhoza secured the title.

Unprepared National Teams Will No Longer Represent Rwanda, Says Sports Minister

Mugisha John — 2025-11-05T13:00:00Z

Government enforces strict accountability and performance measures in sports funding.

The Minister of Sports, Nelly Mukazayire, has announced that Rwanda will no longer send unprepared national teams to international competitions, as the government moves to ensure that all sports investments deliver tangible results.

Appearing before the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, Mukazayire said the decision follows repeated cases of teams receiving large sums of money but failing to perform.

“It has been observed that some national teams travel abroad after receiving over 300 million francs, yet they come back without any results,” she said. “From now on, no team will be cleared to travel unless there is a clear training plan and realistic performance goals. If we cannot expect results, we will not fund it.”

The minister emphasized that the new approach is part of a broader effort to promote accountability and efficiency in sports management. The Ministry of Sports has instructed all federations that public funds will only be disbursed when there are detailed plans for activities and transparent reporting mechanisms.

Mukazayire added that no federation will receive new funding without submitting reports on how previous allocations were used. “Federations must present financial reports within 15 days after receiving funds. Those that fail to comply will not receive further support,” she said.

She further noted that by the end of 2025, all federations must have submitted complete financial reports for the fiscal years 2022/2023 and 2023/2024. The ministry has already addressed audit concerns related to 9.7 billion francs previously allocated to federations, ensuring that all expenditures are now properly documented.

Mukazayire also highlighted ongoing initiatives to build sports from the grassroots, including interschool and university competitions aimed at identifying and nurturing young talent.

Permanent Secretary Candy Basomingera reaffirmed the ministry's commitment to transparency and performance. “These measures are not meant to limit sports,” she said, “but to ensure that every franc spent contributes to real progress for Rwanda's athletes and the nation.”

Rwanda to Host ATP Challenger Tennis Tournaments Again in 2026

Mugisha John — 2025-10-23T09:05:08Z

Rwanda will host two back-to-back professional tennis tournaments the ATP Challenger 75 Tour and the ATP Challenger 100 Tour for the second consecutive year, strengthening its growing status as a tennis destination in Africa.

The tournaments are scheduled for March 2–15, 2026, at the IPRC Kigali / Kicukiro Ecology Tennis Club, with the Challenger 75 taking place in the first week and the Challenger 100 in the second.

Rwanda made history in 2024 as the second Sub-Saharan African country, after South Africa, to host an ATP Challenger event when it staged the Challenger 50 Tour, which attracted over 60 international players ranked inside the world's top 150.

The tournaments offer valuable ATP ranking points — 75 and 100, respectively — and provide a key platform for players aiming to break into the top 100 and qualify for ATP Tour and Grand Slam events.

In 2025, both Kigali tournaments were won by Frenchman Valentin Royer, who defeated Slovakia's Andrej Martin and the Netherlands' Guy Den Ouden in straight sets during the two consecutive weeks. The 2024 editions were claimed by Poland's Kamil Majchrzak and Argentina's Marco Trungelliti.

The ATP Challenger series is known for nurturing future stars of tennis. Notable players who once competed at this level include world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, as well as former champions Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick, and Juan Martin del Potro.

Rwanda's continued hosting of these tournaments highlights its growing investment in sports and infrastructure, positioning the country as an emerging hub for international tennis in Africa.

Ministers Kick Off School Sports Season, Urge Students to Balance Learning and Sports

Mugisha John — 2025-10-21T10:21:48Z

Education and Sports leaders officially launched the 2025/26 school sports year at Lycée de Kigali on Monday, reminding students of the importance of balancing academics with sports.

The ceremony was attended by Minister of Education Joseph Nsengimana, Minister of Sports Nelly Mukazayire, senior school sports officials, and representatives from national sports federations.

Minister Nsengimana emphasized that sports and studies complement each other and that students can excel in both. “The reason the Ministries of Education and Sports have come together is to remind you that these two things go hand in hand. You can study and play sports, but it is important to do both,” he said.

He added that the event was also meant to show students that the government values their talents and is committed to nurturing them. “This year, the Ministries and federations agreed that it is important to open the sports year together so that you, the students, see that we care and are ready to support you,” he said.

State Minister in the Ministry of Sports, Rwego Ngarambe, highlighted plans to strengthen sports talent development. “We are prepared to invest fully, increasing the number of sports teachers in schools and providing technical support through federations, including training camps and continuous teacher development,” he said.

Former national football team captain Haruna Niyonzima, who rose through school sports, encouraged officials to involve skilled personnel and improve infrastructure to ensure young talents thrive. “I thank the leaders who have invested in school sports. Our achievements started in schools, and to develop talents, infrastructure and qualified mentors are essential,” he said.

Students attending the launch expressed excitement at the ministers' presence, seeing it as recognition of the value of school sports. Basketball player Manzi Brain said, “It is inspiring to see the Education and Sports Ministers attend. This shows that sports in schools are valued. I aim to perform well this year to develop my talent.”

Football player Gatesi Uwase Neema added, “Launching the sports year with senior leaders shows that girls are equally supported in sports. I am motivated to continue training and bring pride to my school.”

The school sports program will run from the sector to national level, with top-performing schools representing Rwanda in FEASSA competitions. Events include football, volleyball, basketball, handball, athletics, swimming, karate, judo, taekwondo, sitting volleyball, table tennis, rugby, beach volleyball, and three-on-three basketball. The season is scheduled to conclude in May 2026.

Police VC, Police WVC Win Medwell Pre-Season Volleyball Tournament Titles

Administrator — 2025-10-12T14:13:39Z

Police Volleyball Club (VC) in the men's category and Police Women's Volleyball Club (WVC) in the women's division claimed the top honors at the 2025 Medwell Pre-Season Volleyball Tournament, while Kinyinya VC triumphed in the veterans' category.

The finals were played on Saturday, October 11, 2025, at Petit Stade in Remera, marking the conclusion of the first edition of the Medwell Pre-Season Volleyball Tournament, organized to help teams prepare for the upcoming 2025/26 national league season.

The men's competition brought together seven top-tier clubs — APR VC, Police VC, REG VC, Kepler VC, Gisagara VC, EAUR VC, and KVC. In the women's division, Police WVC, APR WVC, RRA VC, Kepler WVC, and EAUR WVC battled for the title.

In the women's final, Police WVC defeated APR WVC in straight sets, 3–0 (25–20, 25–21, 25–16), to lift the trophy. Police's Ndagijimana Iris was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player (MVP).

In the men's category, Police VC cruised past Kepler VC with a 3–0 (25–22, 25–19, 25–21) victory to secure the championship. Police's Angiro Gideon earned the MVP award after a standout performance throughout the tournament.

The veterans' competition brought nostalgia to the court as Kinyinya VC, featuring players such as Ndamukunda Flavien, Dusabimana Vincent “Gasongo,” Kwizera Pierre Marshal, and Gahire Mandela, defeated the Rwanda National Team Legends 2–1 (19–25, 25–21, 18–25). The legends' side included former national players Yakan Guma Laurence, Nsengiyumva Alphonse, and Nshimiyimana Robert.

Speaking after the match, Dusabimana Vincent “Gasongo” said their participation aimed to motivate young players and strengthen ties between the current generation and the sport's pioneers.

“We joined this tournament to inspire the young players and show them what's possible if they stay committed,” he said.

Organized in partnership with the Rwanda Volleyball Federation (FRVB), the Medwell Pre-Season Tournament is expected to become an annual event, offering teams a competitive platform ahead of the national league, which kicks off on October 17, 2025.

Visit Rwanda Scores Big with NBA and NFL Sponsorships

Administrator — 2025-09-29T17:49:15Z

Rwanda's tourism brand, Visit Rwanda, has officially become a sponsor of the Los Angeles Clippers of the NBA and the Los Angeles Rams of the NFL, the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) announced Monday. The partnership marks the first time an African organization has joined top-tier American basketball and football teams.

Under the deal, the Clippers will help renovate basketball courts across Rwanda and provide annual training programs for Rwandan coaches through their G League affiliate, the San Diego Clippers. The program also includes technology-driven coaching workshops and exchange visits to Kigali, aimed at developing young basketball talent.

Visit Rwanda will also be a principal partner of the Rams, with branding featured at SoFi Stadium, which seats 70,000, and at Hollywood Park, a sports and entertainment complex under construction. Branding will also appear at the Clippers' new arena, the Intuit Dome. Players from both teams will feature the Visit Rwanda logo on practice and game-day apparel.

“This partnership strengthens ties between Rwanda and Los Angeles through sports,” said RDB CEO Jean-Guy Afrika.

The announcement comes as Rwanda aims to raise tourism revenue to $1 billion by 2029, up from $650 million in 2024. It follows the country's other international sports partnerships, including deals with Arsenal in England, Paris Saint-Germain in France, Atlético de Madrid in Spain, and Bayern Munich in Germany.

Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, owner of both the Clippers and Rams, said it was “delighted that Visit Rwanda will promote tourism and travel opportunities here at Hollywood Park, a future hub for international events.”

The sponsorship represents a major milestone in Rwanda's global sports and tourism strategy, boosting the country's international profile while supporting youth development and sports talent at home.

Kagame Receives Champion Belt from Boxer Carlos Takam

Administrator — 2025-09-29T08:48:00Z

President Paul Kagame on Sunday met with professional boxer Carlos Takam, who presented him with a world champion belt after opening a new boxing academy in Kigali.

The Office of the President, Village Urugwiro, said in a statement that Kagame held talks with Takam on September 28, shortly after the conclusion of the UCI Road World Championships hosted in Rwanda.

“This week, the Carlos Takam Foundation inaugurated the Carlos Takam Boxing Academy in Kigali, with the goal of promoting boxing in Africa. Takam also presented President Kagame with an authentic World Boxing Council (WBC) champion belt as a gesture of appreciation to Rwanda and the mission of the foundation,” the statement said.

Takam, 44, was born in Douala, Cameroon, and later obtained French nationality. He represented Cameroon in the 2004 Olympic Games before turning professional. Over his career, he has fought 48 professional bouts, winning 40, losing seven and drawing once.

The heavyweight is best known for facing world-class opponents including Anthony Joshua and Joseph Parker. In 2017, he fought for the WBA, IBF and IBO heavyweight titles.

The symbolic gift comes as Rwanda prepares to host major combat sports events. On October 18, Kigali Arena will stage the semifinals of the Professional Fighters League (PFL), featuring international stars in kickboxing and mixed martial arts.

Kagame has frequently underscored the value of sports in creating opportunities for Africa's youth, describing investment in athletics as an investment in the continent's future.

Slovenia's Pogacar Defends World Title With Dazzling Solo Win in Kigali

Mugisha John — 2025-09-28T15:37:42Z

Tadej Pogacar lit up Kigali's punishing climbs with a trademark long-range attack to claim a second consecutive men's road race world title Sunday, cementing his place among cycling's all-time greats.

The Slovenian's solo triumph came as the world championships were staged in Africa for the first time, with hundreds of thousands of fans lining Rwanda's capital to witness history.

Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar celebrates on the podium after winning the Men's Elite Road Race with second-placed Belgium's Remco Evenepoel and third-placed Ireland's Ben Healy at the UCI Road World Championships 2025.

Belgium's Remco Evenepoel, who had won his third straight individual time trial title a week earlier, settled for silver, finishing one minute and 28 seconds behind Pogacar. Ireland's Ben Healy claimed bronze, 48 seconds further back, delivering his country's first podium finish in the event since Seán Kelly in 1989.

Pogacar, 27, became only the second rider in the last two decades to defend the rainbow jersey, after Slovakia's Peter Sagan's triple from 2015 to 2017.

His decisive move came on Mount Kigali with 104 kilometers remaining. Only UAE-XRG teammates Juan Ayuso of Spain and Isaac Del Toro of Mexico could initially hold his wheel, but both soon fell away. Pogacar pressed on alone for another trademark solo victory on the 267.5-kilometer course, which featured relentless climbs and cobblestone sections.

Evenepoel led the chase group but, despite briefly reducing the gap, the pursuers never closed in on Pogacar, who smiled through grimaces on the final lap.

The win capped a glittering 2025 season for Pogacar, who claimed his fourth Tour de France crown in July, dominated spring classics including Strade Bianche, Tour of Flanders, La Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège, and reaffirmed his dominance across both stage and one-day races.

The men's road race brought the curtain down on the 2025 UCI Road World Championships, which concluded in Kigali after a week of competition that marked Africa's first time hosting cycling's biggest annual event.

UCI President David Lappartient hailed the championships as “a landmark moment for the sport,” while Rwanda's sports minister said the success “showed Africa's ability to deliver world-class cycling on its own roads.”

President Paul Kagame, who attended the finale, said Rwanda was proud “to welcome the world of cycling to our hills” and expressed hope the event would inspire “a new generation of African riders to chase their dreams.”

Sports Minister Praises Rwandan Riders' Performance at World Cycling Championships

Administrator — 2025-09-23T10:07:13Z

Sports Minister Nelly Mukazayire says she remains confident in Rwanda's cyclists competing at the ongoing UCI World Championships in Kigali, noting their early results show promise despite missing out on medals.

In remarks posted on her social media platforms, Mukazayire urged Rwandans to keep rallying behind the riders as the event progresses. The championships, being hosted in Africa for the first time, entered their second day Tuesday with junior time trial races on the program.

“The under-23 men and women showed their talent and skill on the bike, even though they did not set world records,” she wrote. “They outperformed many competitors at the continental level, giving hope for stronger performances at the world stage in the years ahead.”

Mukazayire pointed to Rwanda's strong continental rankings after the first two days of competition. Martha Ntakirutimana holds the top spot in Africa, followed by Claudette Nyirarukundo in second, Samuel Niyonkuru in third and Etienne Tuyizere in fourth.

The minister said the standings reflect the growth of Rwanda's cycling program and the potential of young athletes to challenge for bigger results in future editions of the championships.

On Monday, elite men and women as well as under-23 categories raced against the clock in individual time trials. Rwanda's athletes finished outside the medal positions but impressed with competitive times.

Tuesday's program features juniors, with Yvonne Masengesho and Lillian Uwiringiyimana representing Rwanda in the women's races, while Pacifique Byusa and Brian Ishimwe competed in the men's events.

Hosting the World Championships for the first time is seen as a milestone for Rwanda and African cycling, with the government and local fans eager to showcase the sport's growing presence on the continent.