Home NewsInternational Training with Gorillas in the Mist: Arsenal’s David Luiz Finds His Best Ground in Rwanda

Training with Gorillas in the Mist: Arsenal’s David Luiz Finds His Best Ground in Rwanda

by Dan Ngabonziza
11:58 am

A steamy cold with magnificent white clouds covered one of Rwanda’s Volcanoes Mountains on Saturday morning, October 12.

The mountains are home to rare Gorillas in Musanze district, Northern Rwanda.

At the foothill of one of the mountains, a lone man was seen stretching his body on a naturally green ground – probably no different from Arsenal’s training ground back in London.

The man is David Luiz – Arsenal’s Center back. He is in the country on a tightly-arranged visit.

Luiz, who arrived in Rwanda on Thursday night, along with his long-term fiancé Bruna Da Conceicao Loureiro and mother Regina Celia Moreira Marinho is in the country as part of the Visit Rwanda tourism partnership between the government and Arsenal FC.

Pictures released by Rwanda Development Board (RDB) this morning showed Luiz, who met President Paul Kagame at his Village Urugwiro office yesterday, train alone in the mountains.

After meeting the President, David traveled to Singita Kwitonda Lodge, Musanze district where he planted an indigenous species of tree as part of efforts to expand Volcanoes National Park and reforest at Singita Kwitonda Lodge.

At the property, David also met with the Governor of the Northern Province, Jean Marie Vianney Gatabazi, the Chief Park Warden of Volcanoes National Park, Prosper Uwingeli and Eugene Mutangana from the Rwanda Development Board Tourism and Conservation Department.

The luxurious Singita Kwitonda Lodge and Kataza House was recently unveiled within a landscape of wetlands and lush meadows with magnificent views of the Sabyinyo, Gahinga and Muhabura volcanoes.

The facility where Luiz and his family slept.

In August this year, David Luiz – the Center back of the Premier League’s Arsenal side told the club website that “I try to give what I have learnt from my life,”

“I had an opportunity to live here, [had] many fantastic moments in my career and many titles and I just try to make [the squad] understand that everything is possible if you work hard, if you really believe, if you are humble and keep your feet on the ground and take it step by step.”

Luiz could probably reiterate the message to his Rwandan fans when they meet later today.

Singita

Luiz training streak continued in the volcanoes mountains. After visiting the Volcanoes mountains, the Arsenal centre back will return to the capital Kigali for more engagements.

A press conference with David Luiz and Peter Silverstone, Arsenal Commercial Director, as well as the Rwanda Development Board will take place later today, 17:00 at the Kigali Convention Centre.

Prior to the Meet &Greet session with fans, David Luiz will attend the APR VS Enticelles game today at the State de Kigali in Nyamirambo in the capital Kigali from 3pm.