Battle for Ferwafa hots up

Rwanda Football Federation presidential aspirant Augustine Munyandamutsa has castigated the current Ferwafa administration, led by his main election rival Celestin ‘Abega’ Ntagungira, for overseeing what he called a stingless Amavubi side.The SEC Academy proprietor and chairman says transforming the national team will be one of his top priorities should he clinch the Ferwafa presidency in the January 5 elections.Addressing a news conference at Sports View Hotel on Tuesday, Munyandamutsa even joked that the national team was no longer “Amavubi (Wasps) but flies” because they have since lost their stinging instincts. “My first priority will be to build a strong national team because the current side is not like the Amavubi of yesteryears,” he said. Munyandamutsa is competing against four other candidates, including incumbent Ntagungira, who was fronted by league champions Rayon Sports. Others are; the current Ferwafa vice president Raoul Gisanura Ngenzi (Gasabo United), Jean-Daniel Mbanda (Unity FC), and Vincent De Gaule Nzabamwita (Intare FC). “I have the will and capacity to raise the level of our football. If I get the privilege to lead the FA, I will push towards having as many professional players as possible; this is key to building a strong national side,” said the SEC Academy boss. He added: “I have the knowledge, experience and a wide range of contacts around the world that can help raise the level of Rwandan football and build a winning national team.”The latest in a series of dismal performances by Amavubi is this month’s quarter-final exit from the regional Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup in Kenya, where they lost three games and won just one. Munyandamutsa also said that, if elected, he would embark on capacity building for all first and second division club administrators, coaches, team doctors, psychologists and football commentators. Also up for grabsEtincelles FC chairman Védaste Kayiranga is standing unopposed for the position of vice president in charge of administration and, should he go on to win, he will be serving his second tenure on the Ferwafa executive committee. The position of head of finance will be closely contested for by three elite figures namely; Rayon Sports’ Olivier Gakwaya, Appolinaire Mpilikanyi and incumbent Bernard Itangishaka. Three candidates are also standing for the position of the head of communication and marketing; they are, Patrick Rubega Kagabo, incumbent Richard Gahonzire and Nosisi Toussaint. AS Kigali’s Albert Mwanafunzi is unopposed on the position of competitions committee chairman, while Félicité Rwamalika is seeking re-election as the head of women football commission.Maurice Munyandumutsa and Jacques Kayisire are vying for the youth football commissioner, while Félicien Bandora is the sole candidate for the head of the disciplinary commission.Ntagungira, whose interim term ends at the end of this year, took over as Ferwafa boss after the resignation of Major-General Jean-Bosco Kazura in 2011. Kazura replaced Lt. Gen Cesar Kayizari in 2005. During Kayizari’s tenure, Rwanda qualified for the Africa Nations Cup in 2004, while Kazura oversaw tyhe country’s maiden participation at any football World Cup finals, when the U-17 side took part in the Fifa 2011World Cup in Mexico.