Ferwafa warns Div.2 clubs on using overage players

Rwanda Football Federation (Ferwafa) secretary general Olivier Mulindahabi has cautioned second division clubs to heed to the new regulations that require them to have only U-20 players except for three players who can be overage. Speaking at the draws ceremony at the Ferwafa headquarters yesterday, Mulindahabi said, “Please note that at the start of the second division on January 31, the players eligible to play should be below the age of 20 years. We want to use this league to develop young talent and give them a chance to play regular competitive football which will strengthen our youth teams.” The 20 clubs that will compete in the second tier have been categorised into two-Group A has nine clubs-Aspor, Etoile de l’Est, SEC Academy, Gasabo, La Jeunesse, Pepiniere, United Stars, Vision and Vision Jeunesse Nouvelle. Group B comprises of Akagera, Bugesera, Esperance, Intare, Interforce, Kirehe, Muhanga, Rwamagana, Sorwathe and Unity FC. Four clubs including Nyagatare, Gitikinyoni, Rugende or Rutsiro are on standby with one of them set to join Group A following the withdrawal of University of Rwanda (UR) but according to Mulindahabi, the decision will be made in due course and has to follow the right procedures. “We shall decide to either set up a small competition where they can play against each other and the winner will join Group A or we shall consider the application date, in that case the team that applied first will earn the single slot,” explained Mulindahabi. He also urged the clubs to attain legal status from the Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) lest they face elimination from the competition. He said, “We agreed in an earlier meeting that they will present these documents on January 15 (tomorrow) and the relevant committee will look into this matter. If they do not have the legal status then they should at least show the documents they have presented to RGB.” Clubs are also expected to release their team lists by January 24, a week after they had originally agreed to, after a decision was reached to put into consideration that schools will open on January 26. Mulindahabi said, “This will help clubs to know the availability of players because most of them are students. If they have changed schools to another part of the country then the clubs can see how to deal with the situation either to drop or maintain the player.” Sunrise FC won the 2013/2014 division two league title with Isonga finishing as runners-up earning them promotion to the National Football League. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Ferwafa warns Div.2 clubs on using overage players