Up to 28 Rwandan principal referees are currently attending the FIFA Membership Association (MA) referees training course that commenced yesterday and will run until July 25 at Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA) headquarters in Remera.

The five-day training course was organised by FIFA for all African football federations to develop the skills of referees and broaden their understanding of the game.

In Rwanda, this course is meant for all international referees in the first division, second division and the women’s league. Rwanda currently has 17 international referees.

Three FIFA African instructors are facilitating the course including Sidi Bekaye (Referee’s technical instructor and Regional Depart Officer in Refereeing) from Mali, Divine Evehe Raphael (FIFA Referee’s instructor) from Cameroon and Mbacke Mademba (FIFA Referee’s instructor) from Senegal.

The Referees participating in this training include; Gervais Munyanziza, Hudu Munyemana, Abdoulkarim Twagirumukiza, Raymond Bwiriza Nonati, Ambroise Hakizimana, Theogene Ndagijimana, Jean Bosco Niyitegeka, Honore Simba, Zephanie Niyonkuru, Justin Karangwa, Francine Ingabire, Abdoul Hakizimana, Moise Kwizera, Francois Xavier Ngarambe, Olivier Basabose, Alain Intwali and Ignace Itangishaka.

Others are; Alice Umutesi, Eric Maxim Bayingana, Regine Mukayiranga, Marie Aimee Mujawayezu Rurabo, Balthazar Ahishakiye, Moise Mulindangabo, Hamdan Ndayambaje, Juliette Akimana, Immaculee Imaniraguha, Nsoro Ruzindana and Pacifique Ayubusa.