Africa Sports News of Friday, 25 September 2020

Source: bbc.com

Arsenal players name baby gorillas in Rwanda

Some 300 gorillas have been given names since 2005 (Visit Rwanda) Some 300 gorillas have been given names since 2005 (Visit Rwanda)

Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has named a baby gorilla Igitego, meaning Goal, in Rwanda's first virtual naming ceremony for baby mountain gorillas.

The name is a rallying call for "collective goals" to wildlife conservation.

His teammate, Hector Bellerin, named another as Iriza - first born, while goalkeeper Bernd Leno named another Myugariro - defender.

The club signed a three-year £30m ($38m) sleeve sponsor deal in May 2018 to sponsor Rwanda's tourism.

Twenty-four baby gorillas (nine female and 15 male) were on Thursday given names by park rangers, veterinarians, tour guides and the three Arsenal players.

One of them was named Amabwiriza - guidelines, as a call on park visitors to abide to coronavirus guidelines.

Other names given to the baby gorillas were Amarembo - Gateway, Nkomezamihigo - Keep it up, Kazeneza - Welcome, Umuyobozi - Leader and Umuganga - Vet.

Some 300 gorillas have been given names since 2005 in efforts to monitor their life and protect them from poachers.