Ten young footballers have been selected to represent Rwanda at the FC Bayern youth cup, an international under-16 tournament organised by FC Bayern Munich. The selection event took place on Thursday, September 5, at Kigali Pelé Stadium. The players were chosen from a pool of 100 participants, all aged 15 and 16, who competed in the FC Bayern Youth Cup Rwanda. ALSO READ: Rwanda finish fifth as Nigeria retain FC Bayern Munich Youth Cup The tournament featured ten teams, divided into two groups. Group A consisted of Kamonyi, Rusizi, Nyarugenge, Rwamagana, and Kigali A, while Group B included Huye, Rubavu, Musanze, Kigali B, and Bugesera. Each match was played for 15 minutes by teams of seven players, including a goalkeeper. The final match ended in a goalless draw, with Kigali A emerging victorious over Huye 4-3 in a penalty shootout. The event was attended by Minister of Sports Richard Nyirishema, officials from the Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA), and representatives from the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), which has a partnership with FC Bayern Munich. Former Bayern Munich player Diego Contento, who played for the club from 2010 to 2014, was also present. Minister Nyirishema encouraged all participants, reminding them that their selection for the top 100 across the country was a testament to their talent. He urged those who didn’t make the final cut not to lose heart. It's great that you made it here because you're all talented. Even if you didn't get the chance to move forward, don’t give up. Keep working hard, opportunities are endless, he said. Following the competition, ten players were selected to travel to Germany for the World Final in October. These include Amani Ngomayikizungu, Fred Ishimwe, Alpha Nsengiyumva, Prince Alonso Ishimwe, Obed Nshimiyimana, Isiaka Cyuzuzo, Elie Ishimwe, Patrick Niyongabo, Muhudi Niyonzima, and Djibril Ishimwe. Reserve players who may be called upon in case of injury or other issues are Kennedy Tuyishime, Aimé Prince Imananibishaka, Bosco Kwizera, Tabu Ganza, and Josué Iragena. Nshimiyimana, one of the selected players from Tsinda Batsinde Academy and the national under-15 team, expressed his excitement, saying that such tournaments are vital for young athletes' development. Competitions like these help us grow in football, now the next step is to go to Germany and show the world what we can do,” he said. FERWAFA's Vice President in charge of Technical Affairs, Richard Mugisha, noted that the issue of players falsifying their ages, which had caused problems in previous years, has significantly reduced this time. We’ve seen a big improvement this year, thanks to lessons from the past. We have no concerns about the age of these players, and we’re confident that even those who join Bayern Munich’s academy will be of the right age, he said. In 2023, the team participated in the FC Bayern Youth Cup World Final for the first time, finishing fifth after defeating Germany 3-1 in a penalty shootout. Nigeria won the tournament, followed by South Africa, Argentina, and Mexico.
