Sports Ministry Permanent Secretary, Zephanie Niyonkuru, has emphasized on turning Rwandan football into a business that can generate revenues for all football stakeholders. Niyonkuru was addressing the Ferwafa extra ordinary assembly during which FA vice president Marcel Matiku Habyarimana was elected to take charge of the federation until a new president is elected on June 24. He rallied the federation to start running football professionally and turn it into a product that can attract sponsors to invest in. Football is one of the sports that we, as a country, are looking at to improve the economy. To make it profitable, we have to do something big in order to build a strong relationship with stakeholders and you have to do something big in order to raise the level of the game which can attract more companies to invest in it,” he said. “Our clubs should be patient with this football business. Football development is a long-term venture that requires long-term investment,” he added For years, a number of local clubs have been struggling to sustain themselves financially and it affected the level of the game as a result. Niyonkuru commended people who managed to establish professional academies which he admits play a big part in raising the level of the game. However, he insists there is still a long way to go to bridge the gaps existing in technical organization and development. “For sport to develop, we shall need to borrow ideas from successful football organizations. Without strong leadership, football wouldn't be moving in the right direction,” noted. The members of the Rwanda Football Association (FERWAFA) will vote for the new president on June 23 who Niyonkuru expects to find durable solutions to the financial constraints that have for decades hit Rwandan football.
