The much anticipated return of lions to Akagera National Park, after an absence of 20 years, has been preceded by several events around the border of the park with the aim of sensitization and alerting the local community to the plans to return lions to the park. One event, which has created significant excitement along the park boundary, was the Lions Cup Football Tournament, which saw the final match played out at Rwinkwavu Stadium on Friday 19th December. The tournament began in October and involved 16 teams from the 16 cells in the three districts bordering the park; Nyagatare, Kayonza and Gatsibo. 8 teams were knocked out in the first round with the 8 advancing teams meeting in the quarter finals to decide on the four teams who would reaching the semis. The tournament was organized in such a way that teams from the north met teams from the south starting with the semis and ending with a tension-filled north vs south finale.
The two teams to make it through to last Fridays heated final were Karangazi and Kabare. Though threatening to rain it held off for the match, played out on Rwanda’s oldest football stadium, where despite the impending storm, around 350 spectators came to witness the clash. The match was close but ended with Karangazi taking the first ever Lions Cup title with a 2 – 1 lead on Kabare at full time. Karangazi received Rwf 150,000 prize money and went home with the trophy as Lion Cup Champions. Kabare, the runners up, received Rwf 50,000. As a resounding success, the Lions Cup will become an annual event and Kabare and are looking forward to the opportunity to fight for the title next year.