President Paul Kagame, First Lady Jeanette Kagame and the Prime Minister Bernard Makuza were among the interested spectators during a kids’ football tournament played at Huye stadium in the Southern Province on Sunday, December 2. 

The matches involved teams made of players aged between eight and ten years and attracted a big crowd that also included the Governor of the Southern Province Penelope Kantarama as well many other lower level local leaders. 

The main game was between Butare Youth Sports Centre handled by Joseph Kamugisha and Etoile Sportif de Kigali coached by Vedaste Kayiranga the vice president of Ferwafa. 

In the U-8 category, Etoile Sportif de Kigali hammered Butare Youth Sports Centre CSJB 5-0.

It was followed by the U-10 game, which the Butare side won by a solitary goal scored by Mustafa Yarugen. 

At the end of what was an exciting occasion, government officials who gave speeches, promised to support youth football development initiatives.

They also called upon local leaders to intervene and support youth football teams at the grassroot. 

"The football federation has long term plans to support youth football development around the country.

"We have plans to make such events as  regular as we can because it is only through these youth tournaments that our football standards will improve,” Kayiranga said.

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