The Football Academy, which officially opened on April 19, currently hosts 25 boys below the age of 15. Initially, the football federation Ferwafa had organized matches in the provinces, in which school teams as well as any boy who could kick a ball could show off their talents.

Coach Jean Paul Rossignol takes his pupils through a drill. (photo Timothy Kisambira)

Aeson Rurangirwa, the director of Amavubi National Football Academy, explains that the course takes three years, with the boys dividing their time between school lessons in the morning and sports training in the afternoon. “When the current batch of students will graduate by 2012 they will have been equipped with everything they need and can join the first division clubs, and then we will select a new group,” Rurangirwa says.

It has to be noted, though, that graduates have no obligation to play in their own country, so there is always a risk that scouts from major foreign clubs will come and snatch these well-formed players away.

The cost of the program is shared between the ministry of culture and sports, which pays for the formal education, and Ferwafa which organizes the football training and provides the boys with accommodation. FIFA, for its part, has donated US$ 400,000 to develop the technical center for a period of three years.

The Amavubi Academy currently has four qualified coaches, who are all active in the first division. The permanent head-coach is Frenchman Jean Paul Rossignol, who is assisted by Yves Rwasamanzi.  

The 25 boys have daily lessons until 1 pm, and in the afternoon they have 2 hours of training every day. The course includes the technical, physical as well as tactical aspects of the game.

Assistant coach Yves Rwasamanzi is convinced that some of the boys can make it to the highest levels. “Some of them are really good, they have the skills needed to make it big. But they are still young, so we are here to teach and train them in order to build their carrier.”

Rusamanzi adds that he is pleased to see that the atmosphere in the group is good. “The boys are now getting to know each other, and they are starting to feel like they’re one big family.”

Fourteen-year old Manuel Uwimana for his part is determined to get the most out of this unique chance. “I’m so excited, I study and at the same time I train to become a great footballer; this is what I have always dreamt of,” he says. “It is really great that Ferwafa has given me the hope and the chance to do something good with my life.”

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