KIRUNDO, June 7th (ABP) – In a bid to encourage young footballers in Kirundo province (northern Burundi) and consolidate peace and love, veteran footballers from former clubs Arabica FC, Young Stars FC and Gazelle FC, usually based in Bujumbura, visited the province on Saturday 1 June 2024, 24 years on.
They were accompanied by the Minister of National Defence and Veterans, Alain Tribert Mutabazi, who is a native of Kirundo province and also a veteran footballer.
Those former players have left their mark on the province, to the extent that the Arabica club has represented Burundi in competitions across Africa. On the same day, the visitors played a friendly match with the Kirundo veterans, ending 3-2 in favour of the Kirundo veterans.
In his speech, Minister Mutabazi warmly thanked those former players for thinking of visiting that beautiful province, where they have left their mark, especially in the development of football.
He urged them to make plans to visit the province from time to time to encourage young footballers.
As for the visitors, they were very appreciative of the way in which the people of Kirundo always remain in good spirits, given their warm welcome.
The governor’s chief of staff, Eric Nduwayezu, pointed out that that meeting was part of the government’s peace-building programme, and thanked the visitors, asking them to remain attached to the province they had served.