A group of former Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers, including those who were injured in combat, are on a visit to Rwanda where they played a friendly wheelchair basketball match against Rwanda’s national team of persons with disabilities.
The match, held on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, aimed at promoting love for parasports and encouraging their development in Rwanda.
The Israeli team won the game with a score of 45 to 37.
Meshack Rwampungu, the captain of Rwanda’s national wheelchair basketball team, said the match was an opportunity for them to evaluate their skills and draw inspiration that will improve their game.
He said, “This helped us learn from their experience. They play in a highly competitive league, but we also showed that we are strong.”
He added that sports for people with disabilities should be given attention and support so that they grow in line with Rwanda’s aspiration of becoming a sports hub, especially in basketball.
“We have different sports facilities that are all accessible to people with disabilities. Now is the time for us to use sports to develop ourselves and elevate basketball talent,” he said.
Israel’s Ambassador to Rwanda, Einat Weiss who played a key role in organizing the visit, said the match was meant to raise awareness about the importance of sports for persons with disabilities.
She said, “It was a great moment to remind ourselves that we must integrate parasports into our daily activities and to reflect on the fact that people from different countries often share similar experiences. If you use a wheelchair, wherever you are in the world, you share the same history and challenges with others who face the same stereotypes about disability.”
She added that such matches help strengthen ties between the two countries.
“We have seen that sports create friendships that eventually grow into strong relations between people from different nations. That is why we must value such activities. Personally, I have decided to continue supporting them,” she added.
Both sides also agreed that Rwanda’s team will visit Israel for a return match, further strengthening the friendship between the two nations.
RADIOTV10
