FIFA President Infantino arrives on Saturday

FIFA President Gianni Infantino is scheduled to arrive in the country on Saturday afternoon for a one-day official visit — it is Infantino’s first visit to Africa since he was elected in February last year to replace Seppi Blatter. Upon his arrival from Kampala, Uganda, the FIFA boss will head straight to Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre in Gisozi to pay tribute to victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. From Gisozi, Infantino, who will be accompanied by FERWAFA president Vincent Nzamwita and his executive committee as well as other high profile government officials, will then lay a foundation stone for the construction of FERWAFA Village, which was originally FERWAFA Hotel, in Remera. He will then address a press conference before leaving the country on Sunday. The FERWAFA Village, whose construction works is expected to take 18 months, is estimated to cost Rwf3.85 billion. The hotel will be built in four phases and the first phase will include construction of 40 rooms. The hotel is expected to reduce on the expenses that the Ministry of Sports and Culture (MINISPOC) incurs on national teams during residential training or accommodation for visiting national teams. The FERWAFA Village is part of the FIFA development programme aimed at helping developing countries to establish infrastructure and facilities to boost the growth of the game as well as creating long lasting and sustainable income generating activities while the hotel will also accommodate visiting national teams. FERWAFA is also expected to use the Village for commercial purposes to generate income for different football activities. The hotel will have a total of 100 rooms and will be built on the piece of land next to the FERWAFA headquarters in Remera. FIFA will finance 65% of the total cost while an additional financial support will be raised from other local banking partners. The facility, according to the local football governing body, will have a hotel, a gymnasium and mini-pitches for volleyball, basketball and football. editorial@newtimes.co.rw