UR Huye Goalball Boys Draw Confidence From Strong Start in Kigali

The University of Rwanda (UR) Huye Campus men's goalball team began the first phase of the championship with a victory and a defeat, leaving the players encouraged by their opening performance and determined to improve in the next phase.
The games were held over the weekend at Kimisagara Youth Center in Kigali, where UR Huye faced UR Nyagatare on Saturday before meeting Ngororero on Sunday.
The atmosphere around the matches was lively, with players and supporters showing excitement throughout the competition. The fans followed the games closely, reacting to goals and defensive efforts as the teams battled for every point.
UR Huye's opening match against UR Nyagatare on Saturday was closely contested, particularly in the first half. Neither side was able to establish clear dominance as the players competed for possession and looked for opportunities to score.
The contest gradually became more difficult for UR Huye as the game progressed, but the team eventually found its rhythm and finished with an 11–7 victory over Nyagatare.
The win gave the UR Huye players an important confidence boost at the beginning of the championship.
Captain Randuard Iyamuremye said the result gave the team courage and strengthened its belief that it can have a successful season.
“A good start marks a good end. Winning our first game has given us courage because it has shown us that we can compete and get the results we want. We are happy with the way we started, and we want to take this confidence into the next games. We know there are still many matches ahead, so we have to keep working hard and remain focused.”
For Iyamuremye, the opening victory was not only about the points or the final score but also about the confidence it created within the team.
“The most important thing is that we started with confidence. When you start well, you believe more in yourself and in your teammates. We now know that we have the ability to compete, but we also know that we have things to correct. We are going to use every game as a lesson and prepare ourselves better for the next phase.”
The excitement continued among the supporters, who followed the game closely and celebrated the team's strong performance. The players also appeared energized by the support from the sidelines as they fought to maintain their advantage.
On Sunday, however, UR Huye faced a tougher challenge against Ngororero.
The first half again provided a competitive contest, with the two teams battling without one side completely taking control. But after the break, Ngororero managed to gain more control of the game while UR Huye struggled to maintain the same momentum.
UR Huye eventually lost 10–7, ending the first phase with one win and one defeat.
Despite the loss, Kamuhanda Donatien, who played for UR Huye, said the team gave its best and believes the opening phase has provided important lessons.
“We have given whatever we had. We came into these games prepared to fight and to give our best as players. We got a good result in the first game and then lost the second one, but we are still encouraged because we have seen what we can do and where we need to improve.”
Kamuhanda said the matches also gave the coaching staff an opportunity to identify areas that require greater attention.
“We believe that our coach has seen where to put much effort and what to correct. These games have shown us the things that we need to work on, both as individuals and as a team. We now have a better idea of where we need to put more effort before the next phase.”
The two matches therefore gave UR Huye different lessons: the victory against Nyagatare showed the team's ability to compete and finish strongly, while the defeat to Ngororero exposed areas where the team needs to maintain its concentration and momentum throughout the game.
Goalball is a sport designed specifically for athletes who are blind or visually impaired. Each team has six players, although only three are on court at a time. Players wear opaque eyeshades so that athletes with different degrees of visual impairment compete on an equal basis.
The game is played on an 18-metre by 9-metre court, with a goal stretching across the width of each end. Players throw a 1.25-kilogram ball containing bells, listening carefully to its sound to determine its direction. They defend by using their bodies to block the ball before it crosses their goal line. A standard match consists of two 12-minute halves.
Because players rely on the sound of the bells to locate the ball, silence is required while the ball is in play. Supporters can therefore celebrate when a goal is scored, but must remain quiet during active play so that athletes can hear the approaching ball.
Goalball was developed in 1946 as a rehabilitation sport for veterans who had lost their sight during the Second World War. It became a Paralympic sport after appearing as a demonstration sport in 1972 and officially joining the Paralympic programme in 1976.
In Rwanda, goalball was first played in 2005, with the sport reaching the national level in 2008, according The New Times. Rwanda has since participated in regional and continental competitions.
For UR Huye, the first phase has provided both encouragement and lessons. The men's team now heads into the next phase with the confidence of an opening victory and a clearer understanding of what needs to improve after its defeat to Ngororero.