Rwanda’s Football for Hope style influenced South Africa’s decision to start the 2010 World Cup promotional campaign in Kigali.

According to the Director of Kimisagara Youth Centre, Donatien Nsenga, South Africa was impressed by the Football and Hope and Peace initiative which the centre initiated six years ago.

"We started this programme in Rwanda and we were planning to go on a peace tour to neighbouring countries and this played a big part in compelling South Africa start the World Cup mobilisation and promotional campaign in our country.

"As hosts, South Africa believed that with our programme (Football for Hope) would help a lot in the mobilisation and sensitisation of the 2010 World Cup since we have immediate plans to tour the region,” Nsenga told Times Sport on Tuesday.

He added that with Rwanda being on the verge of taking part in the Football for Hope Festival 2010 was another advantage to the country to be considered in the promotion of the World Cup.

Rwanda is the only country from the Eastern African region which will take part in Festival 2010 aimed at showcasing the work of all the organisations achieving good results in the field of development through football.

Meanwhile, South Africa’s football legend Phil Masinga will join his compatriot Mark Fish next week to continue with the promotion of the 2009 Confederations Cup and the 2010 World Cup throughout East Africa. Fish has been in the region since last weekend.

The Local Organising Committee and German Technical Corporation, a German non-governmental organisation, are also involved in this project known as Caravanimani.

It is a 2010 Peace Africa Caravan that is aimed at celebrating the fifth anniversary of the peace tour to five countries, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.

As part of this peace tour emphasising soccer as a tool for peace-building and social inclusion, youth will take part in five-a-side street soccer tournaments.

The Caravanimani kicked off in Kigali on Monday and will go to Bujumbura, Mbarara (Uganda), Nairobi, and Mwanza (Tanzania) before winding up in Kigali on March 29.

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