At long last, the national football academy officially started operating yesterday.

The academy, which is located at the local football federation’s premises, Remera, Kigali City, will start with 25 players all under the age of 15, who will also continue with their academics at Ape Rugunga courtesy of the Ministry of Sports and Culture.

Apart from the Ministry of Sports and Culture that will fund the players’ education, Fifa will disburse $ 400,000 as part of the Goal Project III to develop the technical centre for the duration of three years.

The football academy which has taken long to start its operation was inaugurated by Fifa boss Sepp Joseph Blatter in 2005.

The new soccer complex that serves both as the academy and headquarters of Rwanda’s football federation was financed by Fifa at a tune of $679,000 to include the building and equipment.

The soccer academy is the first of its nature in the East and central African region will equip young players with theoretical and physical techniques in football.

Transparency and skills examination were the key areas in the selection for the long awaited academy.

Aaron Ruragirwa has been appointed to run the academy activities while Abdu Mbarushimana and Yves Rwasamanzi are the coaches who will train the players.

Ends