Youth development programs improving gradually

Rwanda successfully hosted the 16th edition of African Youth Championship this year with the eight top African teams competing in a two-week tournament in Kigali. Though the young wasps were knocked out in the preliminary phase, they showed some courage and improvement in terms of soccer standards. The host nation managed to beat Mali, drew with Cameroon and were beaten by the tournament winners, Ghana to correct four points from the tournament. The draw against Cameroon illustrated the huge stride in the development of Rwandan football. This can be confessed due to the fact that countries like Cameroon have been building and promoting their youth systems for so many years. The government of Rwanda has shown passion and willingness to develop and promote the sport of football and also, Rwanda’s steadiness on youth development initiatives is now planned at the grassroots’ level. Kids right from the age of eight years to 15 ears are being trained in various youth soccer development centers all around the country. This initiative has been inspired by the local football federation, Ferwafa as it deployed experts in all Provinces of the country to scout young talents. The national football academy which had been scheduled to open last month will also, once functional facilitate these youngsters to further their talent development. Talent detection is also not an easy task as in many other African communities where young people do not get the same exposure. There is always need for psychologically, technically and tactically qualified coaches/trainers to manage these initiatives. There is need for youth soccer tournaments every summer and Christmas holidays to give the young stars chance to exhibit their talents. In awake of this initiative, Butare Youth Sports Center or Centre Sportif des Jeunes de Butare ‘CSJB’ has taken the scheme to organize a kids’ tournaments under age categories of 8-14 years during school holidays. These tournaments act as a catalyst to youth soccer development and promotion activities as well as improving their social wellbeing. Based on historical background of our societies, the youth from disadvantaged communities face complex problems in many African countries and Rwanda in particular. Some families often live below the poverty threshold. Due to illiteracy especially to those who did not get chance of going to school, many young people who originate from families living below poverty threshold, find it difficult to get employment. They are exposed to health risks, alcoholism and drugs. Girls and young women especially face violence and crime, some face discrimination and can be excluded from the social life. Based on this perspective, football has the power to unite people and cultures all over our country and other African communities as well. It is through such tournaments that the sport promotes fairness and tolerance, leapfrogs gender boundaries and fosters mutual understanding, their by contributing to the positive development of the people of the nation. These tournaments focus on technical and social dimension of our youth, empowering disadvantaged young boys to improve future prospects. It is also worth to mention that youth football in many African societies has been neglected yet it’s the root for development in a given country. Lack of coherent youth sports development programs by many African countries has been the root of failure in performance at international levels. Ends