Triumph, excitement and celebration marked the end of the Inter-Faculty Sports Competitions at the National Police College (NPC) on Tuesday, 30 June, as students and staff came together to celebrate outstanding performances in football, volleyball and basketball.
The tournament brought together NPC Staff and four faculties, including the Faculty of Professional Police Studies (PPS), the Faculty of Law (LLB), Computer Science and Information Technology (ICT), and the Faculty of Modern Languages jointly with Journalism and Communication.
From the opening matches, every team showed determination, discipline, and a strong desire to win.
In football, ICT started the competition with an exciting 3–2 victory over LLB. The semi-finals were equally dramatic, with Modern Languages defeating PPS 4–2 on penalties and LLB overcoming ICT by the same score after a penalty shootout.
The football final game became the highlight of the tournament.
Long before kick-off, hundreds of students and staff surrounded the pitch, creating an electric atmosphere. Every seat and standing space around the field was occupied as supporters sang, clapped, and cheered for their respective teams.
Modern Languages entered the match full of confidence, hoping to defend the title they had won previously and become back-to-back champions. On the other side, the Faculty of Law was equally determined to end that dream and reclaim a trophy the faculty had not lifted since 2019.
The breakthrough came when Officer Cadet Bazatoha Geoffrey rose above the defenders to head freely from a well-delivered corner, sending the Law supporters into celebration and giving his side a 1–0 lead.
In the second half, LLB continued to press forward, taking a firm grip on the match in the 64th minute when Officer Cadet Ndatinya Fabrice powered in an own goal with a header from Officer Cadet Ngarambe Adalbert's cross to double the advantage.
Refusing to surrender, Modern Languages pushed forward with high ball possession by creating several attacking opportunities as their supporters tried to inspire a comeback from the stands.
However, in the 86th minute, Officer Cadet Kayumba James sealed the victory with a powerful strike that the goalkeeper could do little to stop. The strike sparked wild celebrations among Law supporters, with cheers echoing across the college grounds as players embraced one another in front of jubilant fans.
When the final whistle sounded, the Faculty of Law had secured a convincing 3–0 victory, ending Modern Languages' hopes of retaining the title and bringing the football trophy back to the faculty for the first time since 2019.
The excitement continued in the other sports.
In volleyball, ICT eliminated LLB by a (3-2) victory, while the Staff team defeated PPS by (3-1) before overcoming ICT by (3-2) in the final to claim the championship.
Basketball also produced thrilling contests. ICT defeated LLB 73–55 in the semi-finals, while PPS beat Modern Languages 89–38. In the final, ICT overcame PPS 84–79 to lift the basketball trophy.
During the closing ceremony, Commissioner of Police (CP) Christopher Bizimungu, the NPC Commandant, congratulated all participating teams for their commitment, discipline, and sportsmanship throughout the competition.
He encouraged them to preserve the spirit of teamwork and unity they had demonstrated on the field.
"I sincerely thank you for the commitment, teamwork, and determination you demonstrated throughout this competition. Your efforts have been truly commendable. I encourage you to maintain this spirit of collaboration and continue working together mostly in academic matters."
The success of the Inter-Faculty Sports Competitions underscored the NPC’s commitment to promoting physical fitness, teamwork, and unity alongside academic excellence. The tournament not only produced deserving champions across football, volleyball, and basketball but also strengthened camaraderie among students and staff.