Their trip comes as part of the ongoing partnership between Rwanda and Atlético de Madrid, which has seen players from the men’s and women’s teams, former players, and coaches travel to the country for official engagements and tourism activities.
On the first day of their visit, the two players toured the Kigali Genocide Memorial, where they paid tribute to victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
The players later traveled to Nyanza District, visiting the King’s Palace Museum, where they learned about Rwanda’s pre-colonial history and the lifestyle of its former monarchs. They also learned about the traditional Inyambo cows, renowned for their cultural significance in the country.
Their itinerary also included a visit to Lake Kivu, where they enjoyed a boat ride on one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations.
Menayo and Gallardo further toured Volcanoes National Park in Musanze District, where they had the opportunity to see mountain gorillas, a rare species found in limited regions worldwide.
Gallardo, 32, is a goalkeeper and one of the experienced members of Atlético de Madrid. She first joined the club in 2012 and spent eight years there before moving to Olympique Lyonnais Féminin in France for a season. She rejoined Atlético in 2021 and has remained with the club since. Between 2013 and 2022, she earned 38 caps with the Spain women’s national football team.
Menayo, 27, plays as a defender. She began her professional career at Santa Teresa CD, where she spent two seasons before joining Atlético de Madrid in 2016. She currently serves as team captain and has made more than 200 appearances for the club.
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