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Rwandan capital Kigali will host the 73rd FIFA Congress (https:\/\/apo-opa.info\/3JzIn7j<\/a>) on 16 March. Brand-new accommodation centre soon to open its doors. FIFA (www.FIFA.com<\/a>)\u00a0Forward has supported the project to the tune of USD 4.3 million.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Designated as one of FIFA\u2019s and President Gianni Infantino\u2019s key goals, football development is also one of Rwanda\u2019s principal concerns, as demonstrated by the substantial work carried out in this sphere by its national football federation, FERWAFA. The strategic development plan for women\u2019s football (https:\/\/apo-opa.info\/429WOWG<\/a>) that it unveiled recently is an excellent example of this, as is its impressive accommodation centre it has just finished building with the help of the FIFA Forward Programme (https:\/\/apo-opa.info\/3T9Q1s0<\/a>).<\/p>\n Made up of 42 bedrooms, two dining rooms, several offices and two large meeting rooms, this functional complex, which is still in a development phase, will be used to host the entire Amavubi (The Wasps) family \u2013 be it the men\u2019s, women\u2019s or youth teams \u2013 during national gatherings. It will also open its doors to any FERWAFA guests during meetings or workshops.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a source of pride for the Kigali Regional Office to have supported FERWAFA in the construction of this superb building,\u201d explained Davis Ndayisenga, Manager of FIFA\u2019s Regional Development Office, which was officially opened in Kigali almost a year ago to the day. It\u2019s a unique residential centre that will enable the Federation to embark on other projects in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n He continued: \u201cThe aim of this project was to reduce the Federation\u2019s accommodation costs, as the sums previously spent on hotel rooms for its various teams were very high. This building solves that problem and can also be used for seminars and suchlike. Seeing the project come to fruition is fantastic for the Federation, but also for the whole region: it\u2019ll serve as an example for others, encouraging them to launch their own initiatives.\u201d<\/p>\n The strategy certainly appears sound. By reducing the accommodation expenses incurred by the different national teams\u2019 training camps, FERWAFA should be able to trim its costs while simultaneously promoting football development, as it now has suitable facilities with which to host meetings, seminars and workshops, which should, in turn, serve as levers for progress.<\/p>\n \u201cYouth and senior players, men\u2019s teams, women\u2019s teams \u2013 we\u2019ve got a lot of people to put up ahead of matchdays or during training camps, and that generates huge costs,\u201d said FERWAFA President Olivier Mugabo. \u201cThe resulting budget problems sometimes forced us to do without programmes aimed at developing coaches or Technical Directors, because we didn\u2019t have enough financial resources to provide lodging for everyone. The new centre is going to help us a lot. It should play a key role in football development here.\u201d<\/p>\n A nest for the Amavubi<\/strong><\/p>\n All of this is very much in keeping with FIFA\u2019s The Vision 2020-2023 (https:\/\/apo-opa.info\/3xswqt5<\/a>), which aims to maximise football development. Encouraging the construction of infrastructure is one of the ways to achieve this objective, and football\u2019s governing body supported the project through its successful Forward Programme, helping to complete a virtuous circle.<\/p>\n \u201cAt my level, it will enable me to have all my teams available,\u201d explained FERWAFA National Director of Football Gerard Buscher. \u201cAs well as hosting the national squads, it will allow us to organise meetings within the framework of the Talent Development Scheme (https:\/\/apo-opa.info\/3FnqR3x<\/a>). Previously, we didn\u2019t have the necessary facilities, and we were forced to travel all over the country. Now we\u2019ll be able to bring all these talented players here and work with them individually.\u201d<\/p>\n And Rwanda is certainly not lacking in talent. Twelve years after their historic qualification for the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup, the country is seeing its golden generation (https:\/\/apo-opa.info\/3YJbbyg<\/a>) come of age. If the Rwandan Football Federation\u2019s strong desire to make progress is anything to go by, another similarly gifted crop of players \u2013 on the women\u2019s side as well as the men\u2019s \u2013 should not take too long to emerge.<\/p>\n The Wasps have now made their nest. All that remains is for them to learn to fly.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n