Rwemalika to ‘professionalize’ Rwandan football if elected FERWAFA president

Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA) presidential candidate Felicite Rwemalika wants to professionalize Rwandan football, if elected in the forthcoming elections set for December 30. Rwemalika, the head of Rwandan women’s football, is challenging to unseat her current boss and incumbent Vincent de Gaulle Nzamwita, who is seeking a second four-year term. Addressing a press conference at the Kigali Convention Center on Friday, Rwemalika admitted that she has mission, plan and vision for the development of Rwandan football. “We need to promote our league and make it more professional, and not only that, but also need to professionalize the federation’s operations,” she promised. Rwemalika, who many observes give slim chances of unseating the incumbent; she has eight key areas where she plans to put emphasis on in her attempt to take Rwandan football to “another level.” She continues saying that, “We will work as a team to operationalize the youth league. Empower the women’s league and strengthening FERWAFA structure.” “The issue of accountability and transparency must be at the fore-front of what we want to do in the next four years; we also need to build more infrastructure, innovation and sustainability which will make our football better. It is time to improve good communication between FERWAFA and all stakeholders. She said that she will work to improvement of good relationship between FERWAFA, CECAFA, CAF and FIFA as well as other Football Associations. “One team. One dream for our football. We need to work together in order to promote the game. We need to have common goal and one vision She also intend, if elected, to make sure that clubs sign performance contract each year with FERWAFA, laying down how they plan to develop and promote the game. Rwemalika noted that she and her team have set the actions needed to break the “uneasiness within the federation and deferent leagues” and “restore confidence within the football fraternity” notably among the clubs, players, coaches, referees, owners and the media. In her term she plans to introduce Beach soccer and indoor football. Who’s Rwemalika? FERWAFA Executive Board member since 2007 1st vice president of Rwanda Olympic and Sports Committee Holds Diploma in FIFA leadership development program Head of Women’s football in FERWAFA since 2007 to date Member of executive committee of U17 CAF Championship and U23 World Championships 2012 Member of CECAFA women commission since 2011 Member of international Olympic Committee commission President and founder of Association of Women in Sports AKWOS since 2004 Continental IOC award for Women in Sport 2016 ASHOKA fellowship award international organization for change makers from 2012 up to date editorial@newtimes.co.rw