Jurrien Timber 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.
During his first day in Rwanda, Timber visited the Genocide Memorial Centre and paid respects to the victims of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.
“It’s important to understand the history of Rwanda and what happened here. I appreciate the peace that exists in the country now,” he said.
The 22-year-old took some time to talk to young footballers, and shared a bit of his story.
Timber commended the “Visit Rwanda” project and expressed his appreciation for the strong support Rwandans show for Arsenal.
“I’ve noticed many Arsenal shirts on the streets; people really support Arsenal here,” he said.
Timber’s trip is part of Visit Rwanda’s partnership with Arsenal FC, as the club’s inaugural Sleeve Sponsor and Official Tourism Partner.
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.
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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Jurrien Timber, 22, also visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial in Gisozi.
Timber visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial, was told about the country’s history and how it was built, and bowed to the innocent people resting there.
Timber was shown parts of the Kigali Memorial, and he explained to him the history of how the Genocide plan was hatched and carried out. It shows how Rwanda has rebuilt the unity of its residents after the history it has gone through.
The defender also took the opportunity to meet Arsenal fans from Rwanda, who belong to a group called Arsenal Fight Arsenal Fan Community.
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