New FA boss appeals for support

The new chairman of Rwanda Football Federation Vincent Degaule Nzamwita has appealed for everyones support in order to achieve the best results during his first four-year term in office.We need to work together, from the fans, journalists, leaders and everyone else involved with Rwandan football so that we build a stronger foundation for future successes, Nzamwita said in his first interview with Times Sport after his historic win.It is for us to build strong structures; we have to have continuity from where the past leaders have stopped, already the foundation is there on which we can start to build our football for a better future,” he added.Nzamwita’s win came as a surprise to many observers of Rwandan football who expected outgoing interim boss Celestin Ntangungira to win the election which attracted five candidates. Nzamwita beat Ntangungira by six votes after garnering 19 votes against Ntangungira’s 13 votes. SEC Academy proprietor Augustin Munyandamutsa, who had also been looked at by some observers as a possible winner, finished a distant third with just three votes, while outgoing vice president Raoul Gisanura Ngenzi and Jean Mbanda got one vote each.Daunting task aheadThe 44-year-old Nzamwita is now faced with a daunting task of taking Rwandan football to the proverbial next level at a time when Ferwafa finds itself in the spotlight.Asked about his immediate predecessor, the new Ferwafa chairman said, Ntagungira has done good things for our football in just two years and I will always need his help and support to achieve even greater things, not only him, but also the other (losing) candidates, we shall need their support too.He noted that there are good projects Ntagungira has started, and that, “We have to look at them and continue to make them stronger, we need to work together for the best of our country.What Ntagungira saidThe outgoing chairman Ntagungira, who has not had a very good relationship, especially with the local media, said he is ready to render his support or even work with the new administration in the interest of developing Rwandan football.“Personally, I am supportive (of the new chairman) and do clearly understand where we are heading in terms of building our game. I will always be there for him if he needs me,” promised the former Fifa international assistant referee.Nzamwita hailed Ntagungira for “building a stronger league, encouraging the promotion of young Rwandan players and to creating international contacts with the likes of the Spanish FA and development partners.”He however, admitted that he would need to add more resources in the top division, second division, women league and academies, which would in turn, provide more and better footballers.‘Business as usual’Jean Mbanda, one of the four losing candidates, despite receiving just one vote, described the election as “business as usual.” He didn’t go into details of what he meant.The Unity FC candidate, who also stood against Brig. Gen. Jean Bosco Kazura but opted to withdraw at the last minute, citing “uneven playing field”, simply said, “Business as usual because everything went as planned.” Nzamwita takes to the helm of the embattled federation – one of the sports federations which failed to get legal status before the New Year’s Day deadline, effectively losing any form of support from Government and the National Olympic Committee – at least, until that issue has been solved.Among the election monitors were officials from the Ministry of Sports and Culture as well the National Olympic Committee.