The kick off of the 2016 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) finals tournament is only 10 days away.

Rwanda is hosting the tournament from January 16 through February 7 in the City of Kigali, Huye and Rubavu Districts respectively.

The three-week tournament is coming to the East African region for the first time.

Times Sport brings you the people, especially Rwandans doing the work behind the scenes to make sure that Africa’s second biggest international football competition is a success.

The tournament’s 25-man Organizing Committee is headed by CAF 2nd vice president, Almamy Kabele Camara (Guinée), deputised by Amadou Diakité (Mali). Rwanda Football Association president Vincent Nzamwita, a member, heads the Local Organizing Committee.

Ismail Wally, CAF’s Director of Competition is the tournament director.

Although there is only one Rwandan on the organizing committee, CAF, the tournament organizers, appointed five other (Rwandans) as members on different commissions.

Vincent Nzamwita

Born on March 3, 1969 in Rubavu District (formerly Gisenyi), Nzamwita is married, with two children – he played amateur football in South Kivu, in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

He worked as APR Football Club secretary general during the club’s most successful period from early to mid 2000s when he quit and resurfaced to stand for FERWAFA presidency in late 2013 as a candidate of second division side, Intare FC, which he won overwhelmingly.

In addition to Nzamwita, CAF has also named FERWAFA secretary general Jean Mulindahabi on the disciplinary penal of judges, which is headed by South African Raymond Hack.

Former FERWAFA president Celestin Ntagungira and ex-international assistant referee, Athanase Nkubito, who now works at the Cairo-based CAF headquarters as refs development officer, are both on the referees commission, whose overall head is Magdi Shams El Din from Sudan.

Celestin Ntagungira

Born May 11, 1966, Ntagungira made his name as an assistant referee in 1994, but became an international refereethree years later.

A professional Marketing Assistant, the 49-year-old officiated at the 2006 and 2010 FIFA World Cup in Germany and South Africa respectively as well as Africa Cup of Nations in 2006 (Egypt), 2008 (Ghana) and 2010 (Angola).

Ntagungira also took charge at the 2007 Asian Cup as guest assistant referee, the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China as well as the 2006 and 2007 FIFA World Club Cup, both in Japan.

He retired in 2011 and was elected FERWAFA interim president following the resignation of Maj. Gen. Jean Bosco Kazura, a position he held for two years before he was defeated in a general election by Nzamwita in January 2014.

Jules Kalisa

Jules Kalisa, a former FERWAFA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) has been named on the event coordination and protocol in charge of social activities and events.

Kalisa, joined FERWAFA in 1999 and a year later, he went for further studies until 2002 when he returned at the local football governing body as executive secretary.

In 2006 he was appointed full Secretary General or CEO to replace Janvier Rwagatare.

He held the post of Chief Executive Officer until September 2011 when he resigned citing personal reasons.

He has worked for CAF in different roles and in 2013, he was appointed as CAF’s Match Coordinator in the appointments of the new members of continental football body’s standing committees for 2013-2015.

Kalisa, 47, was on the jury and appeals commission before being elevated to the General Coordinator of CAF matches and activities.

Celestin Musabyimana

Celestin Musabyimana, a former FERWAFA vice president under the leadership of Lt. Gen. Ceaser Kayizari, and ex-member of CAF executive committee, is one of the three advisers to CAF president Issa Hayatou on matters regarding CHAN 2016.

The 51-year-old Musabyimana was second in command at top of Rwandan football leadership during Lt. Gen. Ceaser Kayizari’s era between 1995 and 2006.

In 2011, Musabyimana lost his position on the CAF executive committee after he was defeated in an election by Tanzanian FC president Leodegar Tenga.

On a whole,

In total CAF has listed 136 people, including six Rwandans, charged with making sure nothing goes wrong throughout the three-week long tournament. The first delegation from CAF is expected to arrive in the countryon Wednesday.

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