Defender Jurrien Timber of Arsenal, England, and the Netherlands national team started his trip to Rwanda this Thursday, December 14, 2023.
The three-day trip was scheduled to begin with an infrastructure tour for the Arsenal player, who arrived in Rwanda early Thursday morning.
“It’s great to be in Rwanda. I am truly enjoying my time here. The people are loving, and everyone seems to have a smile. I have heard many good things about Rwanda, and my experience so far has lived up to those expectations,” Timber shared while visiting a playground near Kigali Pele Stadium to watch young footballers.
Timber paid his homage to the victims of the 1994 Tutsi genocide at the Genocide Memorial Centre on his first day in Rwanda.
It’s critical to comprehend Rwanda’s past and the events that occurred there. I’m grateful for the current state of calm in the nation,” he remarked.
The 22-year-old spent some time conversing with young football players and telling them a little about himself.
Timber praised the “Visit Rwanda” initiative and conveyed his gratitude for Rwandans’ ardent support of Arsenal.
“People here really support Arsenal; I’ve noticed a lot of Arsenal shirts on the streets,” he remarked.
As the official tourism partner and the first-ever Sleeve Sponsor of Arsenal FC, Timber’s trip is a part of Visit Rwanda’s collaboration with the club.
Among the facilities he visited, he started from the Peace Stadium which is being renovated to accommodate 25 thousand people and has a capacity of 45 thousand people.
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The defender then visited the team of young players under 20 years old who play for AS Kigali.
He visited the players while they were training and working on the pitch of the Kigali Pele Stadium, formerly known as Tapis Rouge in Nyamirambo.
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The Kigali Genocide Memorial in Gisozi was also visited by 22-year-old Jurrien Timber.
Timber paid respects to the innocent people buried at the Kigali Genocide Memorial and learned about the history of the nation and its construction.
He gave Timber a tour of the Kigali Memorial and gave him an explanation of the background of the planning and execution of the genocide. It demonstrates how, in the wake of its turbulent past, Rwanda’s people have come together to rebuild their unity.
The defender also used the occasion to get to know Rwandan Arsenal supporters who are members of the Arsenal Fight Arsenal Fan Community club.
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