She-Amavubi take break from Internationals

The national women football team (She-Amavubi) will not take part in any Caf or Fifa competitions in 2015 to the allow women football leadership to re-organise structures, according to Rwanda Football Federation (Ferwafa) officials.

Tuesday, December 30, 2014
She-Amavubi Coach Grace Nyinawumuntu giving instructions to the national side during a match early this year. (File)

The national women football team (She-Amavubi) will not take part in any Caf or Fifa competitions in 2015 to the allow women football leadership to re-organise structures, according to Rwanda Football Federation (Ferwafa) officials.

The head of Rwanda women football, Felicite Rwemalika confirmed the development to this paper but denied reports that lack of money is the main reason why the She-Amavubi will not participate in international competitions next year.

"The decision was not taken because of lack of adequate budget as people say, we needed time to first sit back, take stock of what we have done in the last couple of years and prepare our structures from the grassroots level,” Rwemalika said in an interview.

She added: "Once we’re back on the international scene in 2016, we want to be able to compete favourably in all Fifa and Caf competitions at all levels.”

Expected structures include talent detection among youngsters countrywide, developing national youth teams (U-15, U-17), and improving the senior team.

She-Amavubi eliminated Kenya in the first round of 2014 AFCON qualifiers in April but in June they were thrashed by eight-time champions Nigeria on 12-1 aggregate score over two legs.

However, Rwemalika confirmed that the national women football league will run normally—AS Kigali, coached by Grace Nyinawumutu have won the title for the last six years.

The National women football league season will start in January at a date yet to be confirmed, and it will run for six months.

Twelve clubs have registered for the next season.

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