The selection process, held at Green Hills Academy in Kigali on July 4, 2025, involved children from various football academies across Kigali City, with a significant number from FTPR Lions Academy.
The event featured competitive matches among the participants, allowing coaches to evaluate and identify the most promising players.
Shining Football Academy claimed victory in the Under-9 category, while FTPR Lions Academy secured the overall title, outperforming other academies, including Agaciro Football Academy, Centre Gikondo, and Esperance Football Academy.
The selected twelve will travel to England next week, supported by Green Hills Academy and Kigali International Community School.
Alain Mbabazi, Athletic Director at Green Hills Academy, expressed confidence in the initiative’s success, noting that the chosen players are expected to excel.
He also highlighted the potential for Arsenal to retain some of these talents based on their performance during the camp.
Rwanda and Kenya secured automatic qualification for the African Women’s Championship, as they were the only two countries to participate in the competition, which offered two available slots.
Nigeria was among the three countries that had initially confirmed participation in the tournament taking place in Nairobi but withdrew at the last minute.
In the match played on Friday at Kasarani Indoor Stadium, Rwanda defeated Kenya in straight sets 3-0 (16-25, 15-25, and 20-25).
Rwanda and Kenya are scheduled to play five matches in this tournament, which will conclude on Thursday, July 10, 2025.
In the men’s category, the competition has attracted six countries, including Rwanda, which will play its first match on Saturday against Algeria at 4:00 p.m.
Rwanda is in Group A alongside Kenya and Algeria, while Group B comprises Egypt, Morocco, and South Africa.
In 2024, Rwanda won the women’s title after defeating Kenya in the final, while the men’s team finished in third place after beating Algeria.
As the club marks this milestone, IGIHE spoke to Byusa Wilson, widely known as Rudifu, one of the club’s founding members when it was established in Mulindi, Gicumbi District.
Rudifu shared that the idea of creating the team originated with President Paul Kagame, who at the time was leading the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA).
“The idea came from President Kagame back in 1992. At the time, each battalion had its own team, and we used to play friendly matches—our Byumba team would play against the Nyagatare side, and so on,” he said.
“In 1993, President Kagame got wind of this and asked, ‘Why don’t we create a league?’ We continued playing until combat resumed, and we had to pause.”
According to Rudifu, APR FC began with 32 players selected from a pool of 90.
“They selected 32 players out of 90. Those chosen became the first APR FC squad. This happened in April 1993.”
APR FC’s first match was against a team of PSD members who were visiting Mulindi. That same period also saw the launch of the club’s volleyball and basketball sections.
Among the original members were Uwimana Michael, Lt. Col. Alphonse Muyango, Gen. Mubarakh Muganga, Maj. Gen. Willy Rwagasana, Gen. Jean Bosco Kazura, and others.
{{Not born in black and white
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Interestingly, APR FC didn’t originally don the now-iconic black and white colours. Rudifu recounted how the team’s colours evolved:
“Many of us had come from Burundi and were fans of Vital’O FC, which wore mauve and white. One day, Katarebe, who was the president of Rwanda FC, attended a meeting with his close friend Kazura.”
“Kazura had played for Inter Star, which wore black and white. That’s how we ended up adopting those colours. But originally, we were mauve and white.”
{{Entering the league with spirit and purpose
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In 1996, APR FC entered the Rwandan Premier League for the first time and won it.
“We had no proper facilities, but what drove us was sheer determination,” Rudifu said. “We often said, ‘We came from the bush’—unlike other teams that had better conditions. What gave us the edge was our fighting spirit and the will to prove ourselves.”
The club was also founded with the support of three civilian members from the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi).
Some of the first notable players to join included Nshimiyimana Eric, Julien Ndagano, and Nkunzingoma Ramadhani.
“As players, we received a bonus—what we called a prime—on top of our military salary. The civilians, of course, had their own contracts,” Rudifu explained.
Now a coach at Intare FC, Rudifu credits APR FC’s continued success to strong leadership, consistent support for players, and a culture of fearlessness grounded in its history.
“The club’s leadership engages closely with players, and there’s a shared hunger for success. APR FC doesn’t fear any opponent.”
Over the course of its 32-year history, APR FC has built a legacy of unparalleled success in Rwandan football. The club has claimed the Rwandan Premier League title an astonishing 23 times, with victories spanning from 1995 to 2025. These championship seasons include 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, and consecutively from 2020 through 2025.
In addition to its league dominance, APR FC has lifted the Peace Cup 14 times. The club first won the trophy in 1994 and went on to claim it in 1996, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2017, and most recently in 2025.
APR FC’s influence has extended beyond national borders as well. The team has triumphed in the CECAFA Kagame Cup on three occasions: 2004, 2007, and 2010, solidifying its reputation as a regional football powerhouse.
Two Kigali-based yoga instructors, Rebecca Gakwaya and Steffi Mushayija, have announced plans to launch a yoga training school aimed at equipping local instructors with the skills needed to expand access to the practice across the country.
In an exclusive interview with IGIHE on Saturday, June 21, as the world marked International Yoga Day, the duo revealed that they aim to have the school up and running by mid-2026.
Rebecca, who began practising yoga in 2012, and Steffi, a physiotherapist who discovered yoga’s benefits later, have been teaching community classes at Ivy Wellness Studio in Nyarutarama since returning from a yoga training course in Indonesia in 2024.
The duo’s mission is to make yoga accessible to all Rwandans, breaking down barriers of cost and misconception through their “pay what you can” classes held every Saturday at 11:00 a.m.
“Yoga is for everyone,” Steffi emphasised. “It’s not just for flexible people or Westerners, as some believe. It’s a practice that connects you to your breath and body, offering benefits from stress relief to physical health.”
Rebecca added, “Yoga is everything. In the day-to-day, we sometimes forget to breathe. You run into an issue, and the first thing that you do is kind of hold on to your breath. And the more you hold on to your breath, the more stress you encounter. It’s a tool for wellness that belongs in schools, hospitals, and workplaces.”
The duo teaches Vinyasa yoga, a dynamic style where movements flow with breath, tailored to suit beginners and seasoned practitioners alike.
Steffi noted the importance of proper guidance to prevent injuries, a concern she echoes from her physiotherapy background.
“Many try yoga once and feel pain because they push too hard,” Steffi said. “We adjust poses to meet people where they are.”
The inspiration behind the move to open a school stems from a desire to nurture more qualified local instructors who can spread the practice across the country.
“We want to create a program that trains Rwandans—by Rwandans,” said Rebecca.
“We see the demand, but we can’t reach every corner of the country. So we want to equip others who can.”
Yoga, an ancient practice that originated in India, emphasises the union of mind, body, and breath. Since its adoption as a UN-recognised international observance in 2014, International Yoga Day has become an annual moment to reflect on the practice’s global relevance.
Until the yoga teacher training school formally opens its doors, the pair continues to invite newcomers to their Saturday morning classes.
“The first step is to just show up,” said Rebecca. “Sit down, breathe, and feel. That’s how it starts.”
Lamine Bah joined APR FC in the previous season and played a key role in helping the team secure three trophies, including the Rwanda Premier League Championship, which earned them a spot in the CAF Champions League.
Lamine Bah will continue to play an important role in APR FC’s lineup in the upcoming season.
After his wedding, he is expected to focus on preparations for returning to Rwanda and getting ready for international competitions.
The 23-year-old midfielder previously played for Olympique de Béja in Tunisia and was part of the Mali U-23 national team that qualified for the Olympic Games during their qualification tournament in Morocco.
The Rwandan champions made the announcement on Sunday, June 22, 2025, through their official social media platforms, stating: “APR FC welcomes Dao R. Memel to the Army of Champions. Playmaker vibes on. Lion mode activated”
The 21-year-old joins from AS Sonabel Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso, where he had an impressive campaign last season, scoring five goals. His performances caught the attention of several clubs in the region, including Tanzania’s Singida Big Stars.
Dao, known for his creativity and attacking flair, recently featured for the Burkina Faso national team in their 2-0 defeat to Tunisia during a friendly played on June 2, 2025. He also stood out at the 2025 Mapinduzi Cup in Zanzibar, earning praise as one of the tournament’s top performers.
His arrival brings APR FC’s number of new signings to seven, following the acquisitions of Hakizimana Adolphe, Bugingo Hakim, Omborenga Fitina, Ronald Ssekiganda, Ngabonziza Pacifique, and Iraguha Hadji.
The military side is expected to make one final signing, a foreign striker, as they finalise their squad for the new campaign.
As Rayon Sports prepares for the upcoming season, targeting strong performances in both domestic leagues and the CAF Confederation Cup, the club is keen to retain key players under contract, including Bassané, whose pace and skill on the flanks were instrumental last season.
Reports indicate that Bassané approached the team seeking a transfer, with Police FC among the clubs reportedly interested in signing him.
However, Rayon Sports has made it clear to Bassané, who still has one year remaining on his contract, that they will only consider releasing him upon receipt of the stipulated fee of $50,000 (equivalent to over 72 million Rwandan francs).
Bassané joined Rayon Sports in August 2024 but briefly left the team following the opening matches of the 2024/25 season, citing unfulfilled contractual agreements by the club.
After his contractual concerns were addressed, he returned to play a pivotal role in guiding the team to a runner-up finish in the league, a spot in the Peace Cup final, and qualification for the CAF Confederation Cup.
Rayon Sports FC is undergoing a major rebuild as it eyes a strong campaign both in domestic competitions and on the continental stage in the CAF Confederation Cup.
As part of its technical restructuring, the club has been unveiling new signings to its coaching staff. Following the appointment of Afahmia Lotfi as head coach, Rayon has now brought in Bakame to take charge of the goalkeeping department.
The club’s Football Administrative Director, Irambona Eric, confirmed the deal via social media, announcing that talks with Bakame had been successfully concluded.
Bakame had been with Bugesera FC since 2023, initially joining as a player before hanging up his gloves and taking on the role of goalkeeping coach.
However, towards the end of last season, as Bugesera prepared to face Rayon on matchday 28 of the Rwanda Premier League, he was suspended in a tactical move by the club.
This marks a homecoming for the 36-year-old, who previously donned the Rayon jersey as a player until 2018 before making a move to Kenyan giants AFC Leopards.
Over the course of his playing career, Bakame featured for several top clubs including APR FC, Police FC, AS Kigali, Tusker FC (Kenya), and Atraco FC.
He now replaces Mazimpaka André as Rayon’s new goalkeeping coach, bringing both experience and familiarity back to the Blues’ dressing room.
The approval comes after the FIA accepted final design proposals that will elevate the circuit from Grade 2 to Grade 1, the standard required to host Formula One.
The announcement was made on Wednesday by Toby Venter, owner of the Kyalami circuit, who hailed the development as a “defining moment for South African motorsport”.
“Today, we turn the page to a bold new chapter for Kyalami. We are ready for the return of Formula 1 to African soil,” Venter said during a press conference.
“When we acquired Kyalami in 2014, we made a commitment to restore it as a world-class venue and a beacon for motorsport across the continent. The FIA’s acceptance of our Grade 1 design is a major step forward in that journey.”
The circuit has been given a three-year window to complete the necessary upgrades, though work will only proceed if Kyalami is officially selected to host a Formula One race.
Clive Bowen, founder and director of UK-based Apex Circuit Design — the firm overseeing the upgrades — described the changes as a “light-touch upgrade in engineering terms,” saying they would bring the already excellent circuit in line with modern F1 requirements.
Kyalami, located just north of Johannesburg, hosted 21 South African Grands Prix before falling off the calendar in 1993. With Africa currently the only continent absent from Formula One’s 24-race global calendar, there has been growing pressure to reintroduce a race on the continent.
Kyalami is competing with two other proposed circuits, including one planned for construction in Rwanda and another that South Africa intends to build in Cape Town.
The 61-year-old boasts a wealth of experience on the African continent, having managed top-tier Moroccan sides such as RS Berkane, AS FAR, and Wydad Athletic Club. Talib holds CAF Pro and UEFA Pro coaching licenses and most recently managed Difaâ Hassani El Jadidi during the 2022/23 season. He later served as the Director of Sports at RCA Zemamra.
Talib is set to replace Serbian coach Darko Nović, who parted ways with the club just three games before the end of the 2024/25 Rwanda Premier League campaign. Nović’s tenure lasted 11 months, during which APR FC endured a mixed season—falling short in the CAF Champions League second preliminary round but eventually clinching the Rwanda Premier League title, albeit with difficulty.
Club insiders say Talib’s signing is part of APR FC’s broader strategy to revamp the squad and bring tactical discipline to the team, as they aim to make a deeper run in continental competitions.
According to Rwandan football journalist Kalisa Bruno Taifa, who closely monitors the club, Talib’s knowledge of African football and track record in developing competitive squads made him the top choice for the role.
In preparation for the new season, APR FC has already strengthened its squad with several local signings, including Hakizimana Adolphe, Iraguha Hadji, Bugingo Hakim, and Ngabonziza Pacifique.
The club is also in advanced talks with former right-back Omborenga Fitina and plans to bring in three foreign players. One of them, Ronald Ssekiganda from Uganda, signed earlier in January. The other two are expected to be an out-and-out striker and a creative midfielder to fill the No. 10 role.
With pre-season preparations set to begin soon, all eyes will be on how Talib reshapes the squad and instills a competitive edge as APR FC prepares for both domestic and continental challenges.
