Ibaruwa yandikiwe Perezida wa Repubulika y’u Rwanda Yanditswe kuya 24-07-2011 saa 01:38', na RuhagoYacu

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MURAMIRA Francois Regis

19th July 2011

Rwandese journalist

Press card number: 405/2011

Tel: +250 788434649

722667773

Email: munest2002@yahoo.fr

Subject: Demand of reforms In Rwandese football To the president of the republic of Rwanda.

Excellency,

It is my pleasure to address to you the problems Rwandese football has always been facing and how we can overcome them to build a bright future in Rwandese sports in general.

In fact sir, due to irresponsibility and incompetence of many leaders assigned to Rwandese sports (football in particular), we have fallen in various crises in this section of life and if nothing happens I am afraid of the atrocious to come.

Excellency, Rwandese football fans are aware of your immeasurable support to our sports, but they are also still hoping only your direct effort will solve many of those problems.

Amongst these serious problems affecting Rwandese sports are:

 Irresponsible leaders in the domain of sports: In fact sir, many of those people delegated to lead our sports are irresponsible and have transformed their duties into their own interest. Some of them can give service if only they can get percentage commission from the people they are supposed to serve (examples are available on request).

 Incompetence: Due to weak control on sports domain, many people have found themselves attributed some sensitive positions over their capacity.

And these people get these jobs not on merit (for example there is no competition to become assistant coach of national team, secretary general at FERWAFA, MIJESPOC technical director and so on), but due to some traffics like family tree, financial profit etc.

 Financial difficulties for Rwandese football clubs and lack of strict control on governmental funds to football (reference to FERWAFA Internal audit report 2010).

 No segregation of duties: In an institution like FERWAFA it is a shame to see that nothing can go on without the approval of the general secretary.

This lack of segregation of duties may lead to conflict of interest, errors or omission (example under 23: camp without a game, omission of Rwanda national anthem before the game vs. Zambia).

 Lack of update laws governing sports in Rwanda: The laws controlling sports in Rwanda is too old (Feb 1987) comparing to current situation.

(Example in its 8th paragraph states that people have to practice sports without any profit: this is very false as sport is amongst the very indefectible business of this world).

 Lack of respect for our former national players.

 Belief in nonexistent mystical force (example: case of recent game of Amavubi game vs Burundi): this lead to drop of hard work

 Favoritism: In Rwandese football we may have two identical cases solved differently. (Mukura-Musanze, Etincelles-APRFC).

 Black list: Some people/organizations are obstructed to some merit due to the fact they have different understanding from these incompetent leaders stated above. (Evidences are available on request).

 Injustice: In our football there are some types of injustice like: giving nationality to people without following the steps (Kauma Charles), cases of Rurangirwa Louis and Ndanguza Theonas etc…

RECOMMENDATIONS

 Fire all careless leaders to be found in Rwandese sports and replace them with people of willingness for hard work and vigilant spirit.

 Set up a culture and system of competition in order to get people with ability in their work within sports departments. This means to put in any position a person after competition from many more, and eradicate any kind of assigning post to people based on some profits or family relationship. This will go together by putting in place a post of

DIRECTEUR TECHNIQUE NATIONAL

 Fund on regular basis and equally all top division football clubs, football academies and Federation sports scolaire.

This is experienced and has been found to be flourishing everywhere in the world.

You may ask where to find these financial means. But we can put in place a systematic case where people/companies/organizations, willing to help Rwandese sports, will put money depending on their capability and on regular note. This can operate when I refer to 1$ campaign.

Another source of funds is to deduct cash (as taxes) on players and other employees of sports area.

It is not understandable how a teacher who gains less than 40 000 Rwandan francs is taxed on his salary and a player getting 1 000 000/month is not taxed.

And at the end motivate all the clubs and federations to be sensitive on marketing strategy to survive for long time once the government stops of funding clubs in the years to come.

This point holds the key to amplify the level of sports competition in Rwanda and to motivate people to come back to the pitch.

 Segregation of duties to avoid conflict of interest, errors or omission in sports running.

 Update laws governing sports in Rwanda. In fact the current law highly structured on 18th February 1987 is no longer relevant to current level of our sports.

This will go together with ordering all the federations and clubs to obtain legal status (this has long been a barrier for sponsors to associate with sports in Rwanda).

 The count: this refers to the process of counting all the former national players.

To listen and give respect to them as they have much to deliver via their advices and likeness they wear.

This will motivate young players to perform at or up the standards set by their predecessors.

Many of those former players used to play for national pride without much income; they need assistance and wherever possible have to be given some occupations as they can’t even afford regularly the cost of football match.

Their presence in the stadium will be highly grateful for football fans.

 Eradicate any form of nonexistent mystical force that leads to drop of hard work

 Exterminate favoritism: FERWAFA, CNOR and MIJESPOC have to eliminate any type of favoritism in Rwandese football/sports. This will be done by executing laws as they are. All the clubs have to be threatened equally and according to written laws.

 The change of Rwanda national team nickname: AMAVUBI. In all countries football is the way of defending national identity.

The choice of a nickname is according to country area of expertise. That is why Ivory Coast is known as Elephants, Tanzania as Kilimanjaro stars, and Brazil as Samba boys and Jamaica as Reggae boys and so on.

And I expect the same for our national football team and we have a lot of country specialties like Kivu Lake, our volcanic gorillas, our 1000 hills and the likes.

Amavubi is not a Rwandese specialty and our national team has never managed to record permanent results under that nickname. A change will look as refreshment.

 To facilitate people with ability in their sports related work (coaches, journalists, federations staff etc ) go to study abroad to get specialized in sports management, coaching, reporting, marketing and so forth.

-FERWAFA has to make planning and target objectives in time and space for Rwandese football.

 MINISPOC in collaboration with National Olympic committee has to organize a retreat at least once in two years where different responsible people from federations and clubs will be sitting down to dig up and find out all the barriers for the development of our sports and how we can overcome them.

 Destroy the black list installed by under performer leaders: People have to know that in sports we can have different opinions as sport in its basic is a matter of diverting opinions, leading to unified results.

 Abolish injustice in our football (for example giving nationality to foreign players should follow the steps required except if it is on national profit).

 Put in place a strict procedure to control government funds transferred to FERWAFA.

According to Internal Audit Report of FERWAFA, concluded in June 2010 covering the period from 2007 up to 2009, there are a lot of weaknesses in the use of these funds.

These faults include, but not limited to: lack of memorandum of understanding between MINISPOC and FERWAFA, weak control on budget expenditure that lead to millions of deficit, not supported expenditure, insufficiently supported transactions, some missing amount of money (see annex 2 where 0 Frw is defined as income from the game between Rwanda-Cameroun, that is false).

In fact Excellency it is absurd why people responsible for this mischief were not conducted to court.

 To develop our football by adopting the youth development policy. This have to be periodical and on regular basis. This is the only way sure to get to everlasting results.

This is not difficult but it takes time and money. So, we have to be patient. The results of our national team under 17 can testify on this testament.

Below is an example of how we can proceed. And if this project is corrected and executed accordingly, the fruits and the results will be got soon not later than 5 years:

2015 YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROJECT IN RWANDESE FOOTBALL DRIVE (FIVE YEARS PROJECT).

By Muramira François Regis.

In a far-sighted move which would benefit football in the future, MURAMIRA Francois Regis has made a project named: TUZAJYAYO MURI 2018, which means we will be in the 2018 FIFA world cup.

This Youth Football Development Programme will spread its tentacles through the schools (one school from each of the 30 districts).

The Project Director has to be a former national football player.

Future assets,

After trying all other ways including the last minutes recruiting of foreigners into the national team; our clubs being foreigners dependent; and there were no solution for neither our national team nor for our clubs to be able to advance far during African competitions or in the world stage.

I decided to make this project.

“Tuzajyayo muri 2018” is of the view that the youth are the future assets of the country.

Hence, this youth resource must be guided and utilized towards development; because this is the only sure and long-lasting solution for our football.

The ability and the talents of youth must be brought to light by affording them the needed facilities.

According to this Project, which have to be a national program, 30 schools in various districts of the country, will be taught the basic skills of soccer to nearly 600 young boys (20 for each school) , ranging between 12-18 years of age with the guidance of former national players who show willingness and capabilities.

They will be assisted by FIFA and CAF trained and recognized coaches.

The 600 boys absorbed into this program in the year 2011 will be trained for 5 years and in the year 2016 they will be between 17- 23 years of age, the really general average age of football maturity.

Most of these youths will guarantee the future of the sports in the country.

And we can be certain to qualify for 2016 African cup of nations, not for going to participate but for competing for the trophy during the tournament.

By the year 2018, if this project is well followed and completed, Rwanda national team will be able to qualify for the world cup.

If in that year we fail in qualification, we shall be having a team that assures Rwandese people for at least 12 years next to 2018; Meaning that our team will be able to qualify for more than one edition on the world stage.

The "Tuzajyayo muri 2018" Football Youth Development Project has been divided into Five different phase groups as follows:

Phase I - Questionnaires will be sent to all schools to find out their requirements and assistance needed to improve football. On receiving their replies, the districts Co-ordinator and the provincial Co-ordinator will visit these schools for a discussion with the respective school authorities and parents.

So that they become able to choose among those schools the ones to be selected for the project. Former national football players assisted by qualified coaches will be provided to these schools to teach the young ones the basic skills of football.

Their training program will be monitored regularly. And their facilitations will be provided by this project.

Phase II: Seminars and workshops will be conducted by qualified coaches simultaneously in as many provinces as possible with one or two participants from each school.

After identifying the schools which have shown improvement they will be given the needed equipment to prepare them to teach football to the children, initially in classes and ultimately into forming teams for competitions on the pitch.

Those seminars and workshop will be conducted as Coach Education and they will be encouraged to improve their coaching qualifications, experience and developing interview techniques/skills by undertaking recognized courses; And this will be done according to their coaching level.

This will be done also for referees and players agents.

Phase III: Child Protection Schools authorities will supervise and control these coaches, because abuse can occur within many situations for children and young people, including the home, school and sporting and leisure environment.

Some individuals will actively seek employment or voluntary work with children in order to protect them and safeguarding their welfare as well as preventing their abuse and all of those situations which may occur and interfere with their development.

School authorities will have the power on taking the appropriate action should they suspect, or be alerted to, abuse occurring. And they will inform the project coordinators of that person found guilty of that kind of act.

Child Protection will be done by:

making sure our staff and volunteers are carefully selected and supervised.

Giving parents, children, young people, and workers information about what we do and what they can expect from us.

Letting parents, children and young people know how to voice any concerns they may have.

Ensuring all staff working for the project have the appropriate checks before they commence work.

Phase IV: With the “Tuzajyayo muri 2018” football youth developement project’s specific objective of giving the youth an opportunity to play football, the Rwandese football federation with collaboration with MINISPOC and ministry of education and scholar sports federation will organize inter-schools tournaments for various age groups.

Annual ’big matches’ will be conducted among schools from the same province which will enable the parents and the public around these schools to get involved and assist their own schools.

Non-selected schools will be able to participate so that any player who may be talented and not being in selected schools be recognized.

And he may be required to switch to another school in the system. These competitions will also feature the cadets and juniors of league clubs and that competition will be scheduled in holydays to not interrupt the education system.

Players will stay at school during the tournament, and occupying those boys for going into non-interesting things, which can even risk their bright future.

This project has to be complementary with FEFWAFA which have to try the possible so that every league club possesses a junior team.

Inter-clubs juniors league competitions will be conducted as it was in the past.

The players, who are talented but never had a chance to attend schools, will have to emerge through clubs juniors.

There will be the development of competition opportunities which is important to the development of players will be given opportunities to experience local competitions against other teams and put into practice what they have been learning at the training sessions, to improve themselves and their playing ability.

Competitions are a tool to be used to increase participation and to develop player, coaches, officials, and other volunteers’ life skills. Competitions can be used to break down barriers and to show that all people of different background skills and abilities have a common interest in this project: development of football in our country.

When the school tournaments and the youth club tournaments are in progress, the youth national coaches will go around picking talented players for the national youth squad.

This selected team will be given opportunity to make a tour in Europe during the big holydays as motivation and gaining of experience.

This will be cemented by creating a complex relationship and partnership with different football academies of those clubs who have advanced far in this matter of youth football development around the world. And their scouts will be allowed to come to take a look on our talents.

The most talented boys will be given an opportunity to get the best training and facilities in cadets and juniors of developed clubs in Europe and elsewhere in the world in order to develop their skills to the highest (order) level of their abilities.

These will be under the guidance of highly qualified coaches.

Phase V: Scholarships

Scholarships and awards will be given to outstanding talented youths to do their studies and play football in different areas of the world. Their transfers will be made according to FIFA approved transfer laws.

Excellency, we take this opportunity to thank your beyond measure contribution to Rwandese sports.

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