Ex-referee wins by land slide, asks for support
FORMER CAF/FIFA international referee Celestin Ntagungira a.k.a Abega is the new president of Rwandan football federation, Ferwafa.

Ntagungira was elected yesterday at Ferwafa headquarters in Remera, on the outskirts of Kigali city and won by a land slide.

Ntagungira battled for the post against Theonas Ndanguza after the other two candidates Gerald Nkusi Mukubu and Clement Emmanuel Byiringiro pulled their out of the race before the vote to back Ntagungira.

Thirty-four Ferwafa members attended the electoral process with a vote from first division clubs accounting to four votes while each second division vote tallied to two.

Others, who voted included the referees association, women football and coaching associations carried a single vote.

Ntagungira tallied 83 votes while Ndanguza received only four votes. The Rayon Sports representative will serve the next two years replacing Brig. Gen. Jean Bosco Kazura, who resigned in September due to what he described as personal reasons.

In his maiden speech as the head of Rwandan football, Ntagungira said, "Taking our football to the next level is a vital and challenging task.

I will not accomplish this task alone. I need everyone’s support and advice from all stake holders to make this mission possible.”

On top of his agenda, the 46-year old is focused on a complete revamp of Rwandan football deep from the grassroots to the senior level.
For the start

He said that among his first priorities will be to get sponsors for both the national team and individual clubs, professionalize the national league, and enhance bi-lateral relations with other CAF and FIFA as well as creating transparency in the day to day operations of the federation.

Other issues on his agenda will be the develop women football, enforce different commissions in the federation to carry out different tasks assigned to them and play a big role in developing a strong program for mass football.

After Kazura, Ntagungira is believed to be capable steering Rwandan football in the right direction in the next two years.  The way fellow candidates expressed their desire to back him proved another fact that they believed in him to make an impact for the local football.

Though he has not been in the limelight regarding administration issues, he has been known as a committed person who will do everything possible to achieve set targets.

He has been engaged in local football since 1999 when he started the refereeing profession.

He knows all corners of Rwandan football and with his skills and zeal for implementing radical changes in the local football, Ntagungira is believed by many to be able to handle and manage all pressures he’s likely to come under as head of Ferwafa.

Ntagungira stands out as Rwanda’s most decorated referee after officiating at two Fifa World Cups, three Africa Nations Cup, two World Club Championships, two U-20 youth championships, the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and numerous continental and regional tournaments.

This experience has kept him a respectable figure in both Caf and Fifa offices and as a matter of fact, the existing relationships with Issa Hayatou and Sepp Joseph Blatter will even be improved.

Ends