Fifa advocates for technical director’s role

THE world football federation (FIFA) has instructed Rwanda to have a technical director before the end of this year if the country is to continue benefitting from the Financial Assistance Programme (FAP).The FIFA Technical Adviser Jean Michel Benezet, who was in the country last week said that Rwanda is the only country with no technical director among FIFA’s 207 members.The Financial Assistance Programme (FAP) is designed to motivate and empower the associations and confederations to organise development programmes that meet their needs and strengthen football and its administration in the long term.“For Rwanda to continue benefitting from FAP, a technical director should be in place. I have talked to the federation as well as the ministry of sports and they assured me that before the end of June, this position will be filled.“I am optimistic that both parties will keep their promise and have a technical director in place to work with all levels, from elite to grassroots, in bid to better prepare Rwandan footballers for the demands of the modern game,” stated Benezet.It is outlined in art. 3.10 of the FAP Regulations, that FIFA member associations are entitled to receive the FAP financial support provided that they employ a technical and development director who is in charge of youth, grassroots and development programmes. This was applied for the first time in 2010. For next year, member associations were requested to confirm the name of their technical director when filling in Form 1 of their FAP 2012 which Rwanda is yet to do.FAP funds are principally used for making improvements to infrastructure, youth football and technical development within associations.Today, the main focus is the financing of technical development, planning and administration, as well as youth football.Benezet also agreed to foster for various FIFA-backed courses in areas of referees, club management, coaching, and other developmental projects aimed at improving the standard of the game in the country.While in the country, Benezet met Rwandan football officials and also the government to express FIFA’s gratitude for the government’s support.

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Fifa advocates for technical director’s role