The National Blind Sport Team in collaboration with the National Council of Persons with Disabilities organized the national championship which took place in 3 phases. This championship is the 7th Edition and 6 teams participated: Gisagara, Gahini, Rubavu, Ngororero and Musanze. Bugesera Goal Ball team was not able to join competition due to the lack of transport means.
On Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th May, 2014 at Ubworoherane Stadium in Musanze district Northern Province, held the 1st phase Championship.
The following are the results for Phase I:
Rwamagana 11 vs Musanze 1
Gisagara 9 vs Rubavu 2
Ngororero10 vs Bugesera 0
Musanze 4 vs Gahini 3
Gisagara 10 vs Ngororero 0
Rwamagana 10 vs Bugesera 0
Gahini 8 vs Rubavu 8
Gisagara 5 vs Rwamagana 4
Musanze 10 vs Ngororero 3
Gahini 10 vs Bugesera 0
Rubavu 7 vs Musanze 4
Gahini 0 vs Ngororero 9
Rubavu 10 vs Bugesera 0
The second phase took place on 24-25 May 2014 at Amahoro stadium in NPC Gymnasium.
Results:
Day 1
GISAGARA 10 vs. BUGESERA 0.
HVP GATAGARA 11 vs. NGORORERO 1.
GISAGARA 16 vs.MUSANZE 13.
HVP GATAGARA 18 vs.GS GAHINI 8
KVU TEAM 11 vs.NGORORERO 1
BUGESERA 0 vs.MUSANZE 10
GISAGARA 19 vs.GS GAHINI 11
HVP GATAGARA12 vs.KIVU TEAM 3
Day 2
HVP GATAGARA 15 vs. MUSANZE 5
GISAGARA 12 vs. KIVU TEAM 8
NGORORERO 10 vs. BUGESERA 0
GS GAHINI 16 vs. MUSANZE 12
NGORORERO 5 vs. GISAGARA 12
BUGESERA 0 HVP vs. GATAGARA 10
GS GAHINI 2 HVP vs GATAGARA 12
The Final phase took place on 14-15 June 2014 at HVP-Gatagara in Rwamagana District where Goal ball men team of Rwamagana won the cup and Rubavu Women team.
Note that Goal ball is a team sport designed specifically for blind athletes, originally devised in 1946 by the Austrian Hanz Lorenzen and German Sepp Reindle as a means of assisting the rehabilitation of visually impaired World War II veterans. Rwanda started playing Goal Ball since 2005 up to now.
Participants compete in teams of three, and try to throw a ball that has bells embedded in it into the opponents’ goal. Teams alternate throwing or rolling the ball from one end of the playing area to the other, and players remain in the area of their own goal in both defense and attack. Players must use the sound of the bell to judge the position and movement of the ball. Games consist of two 12-minute halves. Eyeshades allow partially sighted players to compete on an equal footing with blind players. Eye patches may be worn under eyeshades to ensure complete coverage of the eye, and prevent any vision should the eyeshades become dislodged.