Hendrik Pieter de Jongh has officially started his new role as the Technical Director of Rwanda Football Association (FERWAFA).

The Dutchman signed a two-year renewable contract.

"My plan for the next two years is to work on youth football development for Rwanda,”"I want to create a good structure in basic technical and tactical skills for youth who will later become good players and bring success to the national team. I will also emphasize recognizing and nurturing youth talent to pave their way to professional football,” the 45-year-old added.

He said he will work with local coaches in elevating their capacities by educating them on better technical and tactical training.

"I would also ensure that all the teams are trained by qualified coaches with the right experience. I know that in football team work is most important, so I shall focus on good discipline and mentality to create a positive team work spirit on and off the pitch,” De Jongh noted.

He was selected from a shortlist that included Giovanni Scanu of Italy, Sebastien Desabre (France) and Michael Weiss from Germany.

He will be assisted by Amavubi legend Jimmy Mulisa, who will be in charge of delivering and managing youth development programmes, organizing, planning, managing and delivering multiple projects to meet key performance indicators.

De Jongh will also develop and implement player analysis tools to enhance performance and support development in a bid to establish a successful youth programme in the long term.

He played for Dutch sides NAC Breda and Sparta Rotterdam before starting his coaching career as a youth coach at RKC Waalwijk between 1990 and 1994.

He moved to Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) in the same position for three years. He has since been in charge at VRC in Veenendaal, FC Dordrecht, Vitesse Delft and AZ Eredivisie.

He also worked at the Moldova Olympic Committee before taking over as director. He also served as technical director at Budapest Honvéd academy before moving to Leopards in 2014.

The Dutchman took AFC Leopards to the finals of the Nile Basin regional Soccer tournament last year where they were beaten 1-0 in the finals by Uganda’s Lake Victoria University in Khartoum, Sudan.

De Jong also coached VRC in Veenendaal, FC Dordrecht, Vitesse Delft, and AZ Eredivisie. He was later appointed director of Budapest Honvéd academy and served as technical director.

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