The Pentecostal Church of Rwanda (ADEPR) launched a three-day football tournament which brings together 240 school children from across the country. The children are grouped into 20 teams — 10 for girls and 10 for boys.

The tournament, which runs from August 7 through August 9 at Muhanga Stadium, is in line with ADEPR’s initiative which intends to transform the lives of children with ‘Gospel Through Football’, according to the church’s management.

Only children aged 13 and under are participating and were selected from 1,080 children in competitions held at provincial level.

The Gospel Through Football U13 tournament was opened by the Senior Pastor of ADEPR, Isaie Ndayizeye.

According to the church and its partners in the initiative, the choice of football as an avenue for preaching the gospel and positively impacting the lives of people, especially children, because "it comes second to religion in convening people.”

Ndayizeye stated that, after religion, football is the next most effective means of bringing people together. He emphasised the importance of incorporating the Word of God into football settings, suggesting that pastors should bring the message of God to football pitches.

"The initiative helps to tackle issues that lead children to bad behaviour, such as drugs because in the teachings they get, they are told that for them to be skilled players and develop their talent, they should shun drugs and deceitful people,” he observed, adding that it helps to identify cases of family issues as affected children reveal them to coaches and the church helps the families to address them.

Marcel Habyarimana Matiku, 1st president in charge of administration and finance at the Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA), said the partnership between FERWAFA and Ambassadors Football Global has proven to be worthwhile.

He observed that such a football initiative can help children to develop their talent and contribute to the country’s development.

"Among the 240 children we have today whom we are going to look after in three days, it would be a major achievement if we get 10 of them to play for the national team, and that is possible,” he said, pointing out that this is a good opportunity for children to display their talents and make the most of them.

For the Vice Mayor in charge of finance and economic development in Muhanga District, Eric Bizimana, apart from improving children’s fitness through sports and nurturing children’s football talent, the initiative can have a good social impact on their better future.

"We see this as something that can result in reducing drug use among the youth, preventing teenage pregnancy and a future where children grow into citizens who will take better decisions to build Rwandan society,” he observed.

The President of Ambassadors Football Global, Jonathan Henri Ortlip, said in their work, they focus on the Word of God and football.

Football and the Word of God can go together, he pointed out, indicating that football is just a ball, it can be used for good or bad, depending on how it is handled.

"Teach the children in life, and football is part of life. So, the Word of God is the only thing we can give children and it will last for eternity. The Bible says the Word of God is alive, active, powerful,” he said.

Progress registered

Under the initiative, Ndayizeye said, the teachings focus on football, faith, and the future, adding that they encourage children to love education and that their education performance improved since joining the initiative.

Since its inception in 2017, with the support of Ambassadors Football Global, the initiative has 52 programmes that bring together 6,000 children. It also has 152 coaches who help children to meet once a week (on Saturdays) for play and learning values based on the Word of God that help them to prepare for their future.

Habyarimana appreciated the fact this year, among two teams that represented Rwanda in CAF African Schools Football Championship, one came from Ecole Secondaire de Sumba, which was trained under the abovementioned initiative.

"We commend this because it is what we strive for on a daily basis. It is an ongoing programme, we will continue to partner, provide training, and even look for people to follow up on the talents of these children,” he said.