Heroic football unifies Huye veterans

Emmanuel Mungwarakarama


After work and off drinking pubs, 76 Huye veterans associated to ‘Intwari’ (heroes) football club, play football every Sunday, helping them to unify Butare society after 1994 genocide.

Apart from building their bodies by doing sport, the veterans, all men aged between 23 and 51 affirm that they no longer spend their money in bars
“After 1994 genocide, we (Intwari FC founders) thought about what to do to reorganize our destructed society. We are a group of Butare workers and businessmen. As, football is the king sport in Rwanda, we decided to entertain and be exemplary to our society by playing every Sunday, even though many of us are veterans” explained Albert Kayiranga, 41, and the first president of Intwari, on the question of how the idea came.

Later, a team became an association

Kayiranga went on saying that the number of players were progressing , making easier the aim of “together, we play”.
“In 1995, we formed a team called Intwari FC, simply meaning that we aim at being heroes and give such an education to our children” We play and after share a glass. No Hutu or Tutsi in Intwari family, we are Rwandans, heroic players” he added.

In May 1996, Intwari FC members were 102.
“We formed an association Intwari, so that officially recognised, we accomplish our mission to the society” said Léon Pierre Kayitare, an Intwari founder member.
The association counts now 76 members, being football fans, legends who live in Huye District.

Intwari, a family affair

Rutayisire Runuya, 48, is one of the Rwandan football legends who plays for Intwari FC, alongside his son Ishmael Rutayisire who is 25 years old.
“Playing with my father helps me to take and respect others as fathers. This has turned into my life” Said Ishmael.

After every session of playing, Intwari members share a glass. According to Nsonera Guido, this is proof to how Intwari is a family.
“ Our families know each other. Every new year, we share something, ” added Guido

Intwari members are preparing to commemorate , the 1st of February, a Rwanda national heroes day .
“ We will commemorate it as it is our aim to become heroes and we must train our children to be so ” said Traoré Niyomfura, the acting president of Intwari association