Tillsonburg Minor Soccer Club, Basketball Tillsonburg support youth sports in Kabura, Rwanda

A Umurava Primary School student in Kabura, Rwanda shows off a prized soccer ball donated by the Tillsonburg Minor Soccer Club. (Contributed Photo)

Jeff Tribe, Post Correspondent

It was like Christmas in June.

Except maybe a little better, because this version of Santa had both soccer and basketballs in his sack.

“Munyezamu, Munyezamu, Munyezamu!” scores of onrushing uniformed students chanted as we pulled into the Kabura, Rwanda, Umurava Primary School parking area.

It was a powerful moment along a full-circle journey for Umoja (unity in Swahili) Community Mosaic (https://umojamosaic.org) Executive Director Jean-Claude Munyezamu. A Rwandan native and 1994 genocide against the Tutsi survivor, he arrived in Canada as a refugee. Settling in Calgary, Munyezamu’s efforts to improve his public housing neighbourhood resulted in the foundation of Soccer Without Boundaries, harnessing the power of sports to influence young people in a positive direction. This entity morphed into a multi-faceted movement adding a food bank, girls’ leadership training, after-school programs supporting working parents and a popular community sewing connection.

As the 30th anniversary of the genocide approached, Munyezamu found the courage and grace for a return to his home community. Based on unique understanding of both its challenges and potential, the ‘Ejo’ (tomorrow in Kinyarwandan) project was added, originally under Umoja auspices. Its outline follows basic Umoja tenets of building community and a sense of belonging while solving rather than managing problems through providing a hand up instead of a hand out. In short, offering hope for a brighter future, without which people cannot see possibility.

In conjunction with external financial support, most notably from the Stampede Rotary Club in Calgary, a 700-foot pipeline bringing clean drinking water to Umurava Primary School was connected with community labour, a basketball/volleyball court was constructed, and a wide variety of academic and athletic supplies provided. Aligning with the foundational principle of community ownership, and by extension, maintenance, their handover to Kabura was celebrated Friday, June 20th. A ceremony featured local and regional officials, community members and importantly, ranks of students lining the court’s outer boundaries, excited and celebrating under the hot African sun.

A little bit of Tillsonburg was included in the festivities, the gracious donation of 24 soccer balls courtesy of the Tillsonburg Minor Soccer Club (TMSC), along with 20 basketballs from Basketball Tillsonburg. The connection between the two communities came via a long-time Tillsonburg sports guy reaching out to long-standing community sports members after being invited to accompany Munyezamu to Rwanda.

It’s hard to overstate the excitement the donations generated. Historically, soccer balls in the area were made out of banana leaves and twine, an evolution featuring plastic bags and other materials a familiar sight on school or community soccer pitches, front yards and roadways. The skill Rwandan kids display with these homemade versions in sandals or bare feet on undulating, hard-packed dirt pitches with holes and the odd patch of grass is incredible, equalled only by their passion for the game.

Passing factory-made soccer balls along was always a major event, celebrated and drawing an appreciative crowd, recipients clearly considering themselves a form of lottery winners. Munyezamu judiciously distributed balls amongst individuals and schools, sharing the love so to speak between the K-6 Umurava Primary, Kagura’s K-9 GS Rubira he had also attended, and an institution in the Rwandan capital Kigali for worthy, yet financially-challenged students.

Far more than mere athletic implements, the balls are seen as tools to pull children into sports’ positive power, keeping kids in school, active and encouraging community-building by resultantly bringing their parents along with them.

Rwandan kids have a ‘huge passion’ for soccer said Umurava coach Patrick Ndagijimana via translator, playing ‘whenever they have a moment.’

Basketball is a new sport in the area, he continued.

“For that specific school (Umurava), it’s the first time,” said Ndagijimana, who played point guard during his youth, and enhances his coaching skill via YouTube.

“Even if it is a new game to them, they have the basketball court. They’re going to make sure they raise their talents for the game.”

Although soccer is more familiar, Ndagijimana says basketball provides an alternative for those who ‘prefer another game.’

“We have everything it takes,” he said. “The basketballs and a playground (court) which is modern.”

Although a soccer striker, coach and passionate fan, Munyezamu’s support for basketball reflects belief in the power of every youth sport, combined with the challenge of dedicating larger patches of valuable agricultural land required for soccer fields.

It can be hard to compete with soccer admitted Rwanda Basketball Federation Executive Director Fiona Ishimwe.

“But we can see basketball really growing here in Rwanda.”

Formerly captain of the Rwanda’s national women’s team, Ishimwe was both pleased and a little surprised Umoja had independently dovetailed with Giants Of Africa Masai Ujuri’s goal of building an additional 10 outdoor courts in the country.

“Come back in five years and do an interview and you will be amazed,” Ishimwe promised.

Basketball Tillsonburg’s (BT) Jesse Goossens was pleased the donated basketballs found such enthusiastic homes.

“I think that’s pretty awesome,” he summed up, reflecting on kids he sees playing with BT balls at home on Southridge Public School courts. “Now we’ve got kids over in Rwanda doing the same thing,” Goossens laughed, enjoying the thought of an international connection between youth on different continents, effectively enjoying hoops together.

“That’s what they’re supposed to be doing,” he said, happy to share in some small way, Tillsonburg’s broader love for the game. “That to me is a fundamental reason why we do this stuff.”

TMSC President Frank Deutsch was also pleased to hear of the impact his club’s donation had. At its heart, soccer is a simple game, he said, happy to encourage broader participation.

“You just need yourself and a ball.”

In a sense, soccer, or sport in general is also a universal language, Deutsch agreed, offering a positive connection between the communities.

“We’re glad to support that.”

In conclusion, Ndagijimana expressed appreciation for a contribution which will be ‘very helpful.’

“When you go back, please say thank-you very much. Whoever wants to come and visit us, they will be warmly welcomed.”