Girls encouraged to pursue football as a path to a better future in Rubavu

Rubavu, July 26, 2025 — Young girls playing football in Rubavu District have been reminded that with commitment and passion, the sport can be a life-changing opportunity.

This message was delivered during a football event held at Umuganda Stadium in Rubavu, where four football academies for girls participated in a development initiative aimed at encouraging young girls to engage in the sport.

The event, known as the FIFA Women’s Football Campaign, is supported by FIFA through the Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA) under its women’s football development program.

The event brought together 94 adolescent girls, particularly those under the ages of 13 and 15. The initiative served both as a motivational campaign and a skills development opportunity.

Present were various figures in Rwanda’s women’s football, including the head coach of the national women’s football team and head of women’s football development, the Commissioner for Women’s Football Development at FERWAFA, as well as representatives from FIFA and members of FERWAFA’s Women’s Football Development Commission.

Before playing matches, the girls were guided through training routines by professional coaches. Teams were split according to age brackets — under 13 and under 15 — with each group playing matches within their category.

In both categories, White FA Academy won the trophies. After the matches, a FIFA representative addressed the players, encouraging them to believe in their talent and use it to its full potential, assuring them of continued support.

The Commissioner for Women’s Football Development at FERWAFA described the event as a success, saying it showed the value of initiatives promoting girls’ participation in football.

She said the program is already yielding results, pointing to similar activities held in Ngoma and Huye where talented players were identified and selected to join the Talent Development Scheme, a FIFA project run in partnership with FERWAFA and Sports Scolaire.

She added that another sign of progress is the increasing interest from leaders of women’s football clubs, who have begun reaching out to FERWAFA to request more support for both young and senior players.

The event featured four academies divided by age groups: White Stars FA, Kunda FA, Nyakiriba, and Kivu FA. Each brought teams in the under-13 and under-15 categories.

Each academy received 10 footballs to support their training, and top-performing teams were awarded medals. Throughout the day, the girls were also provided with meals and drinks until the event ended.

The initiative is part of ongoing efforts to promote the development of women’s football and create opportunities for girls in Rwanda to grow through sport.