The FERWAFA President Mr. Munyantwali Alphonse has, this Wednesday morning visited children who represented Rwanda, in Bayern Munchen youth cup, which took place in Germany from 18th to 23rd of October and delivered a message of hope, joy and encouragement.
President Alphonse Munyantwali posing with the team.
He urged them to keep dreaming
big, strive to make their incredible talents shine and concentrate on their
studies, because a talent mixed with good education, discipline and
determination will sharpen their skills and take them to the highest heights.
THE JOURNEY OF TEN CHILDREN WHO REPRESENTED RWANDA, FROM DEPARTURE
TO LANDING BACK
From 18th to 22nd
of October, The U16 team representing Rwanda under Bayern Munchen partnership
with the Government of Rwanda through Visit Rwanda initiative, participated in
the tournament known as Bayern Munchen Youth cup, organized by Bayern Munchen
team, where a delegation was made of ten players Captained by Ishimwe Elie, the
youngest of all), coaches, Government and federation Leaders hit the sky to
Germany.
The participating countries were
eight, namely, Argentina, India, Mexico, Nigeria, Germany, Ivory Cost, South
Africa and Rwanda, where the first day of 18th October 2023 was the
teams arrival and the training sessions for the participating team, Rwanda
included. Team Rwanda was training from the pitch nearby Limmerhof Hotel which
accommodated the team in Munchen.
On 19th October, Team
Rwanda had its second training and in the evening participated in the draw of
the group stages, where Rwanda drew Nigeria, USA and South Africa, in Group B, and
after the draw stage, the night was concluded by intercultural gala night where
countries had a chance to showcase their respective cultures and other social
games.
The day of 20th was a
very busy day for Team Rwanda which had three friendly matches, out of which
two brought win and one a loss. Explicitly; Rwanda 1-0 India (by Ndayishimiye
Barthazar), Rwanda 0-1 Mexico, and Rwanda 2-0 Germany (both scored by Ntwali
Anselme). The game was played on a small pitch with 50mx70m size and seven players admitted on
each side of the playing team on the pitch.
Saturday 21st October
2023, was the day where the tournament took place, and here we will focus on
Rwanda group stage, where we performed as follow; Rwanda 0-0 Nigeria, Rwanda
0-1 South Africa and Rwanda 3-1 USA, scored by Hategekimana Abdouldhim, Ishimwe
Elie the captain and Ndayishimiye Barthazar), and Rwanda qualified to play for
the 5th place against Germany, where the game ended 0-0 draw, and
Rwanda finally won on Penalty Kicks 3-1 shot by Ndayishimiye Barthazar, Sheja
Djibrir and Ishimwe Elie.
After the tournament Rwanda’s two
players were chosen among the tournament MVPs, namely; Ndayishimiye Barthazar
from Tsinda Batsinde and Ishimwe Elie from Tsinda Batsinde FC who later on the
next day played against Bayern Munchen U17 team and lost 4-1, where both
Rwandans were on a starting eleven.
Team Ranking after the
tournament;
1. Nigeria
2. South
Africa
3. Argentina
4. Mexico
5. Rwanda
6. Germany
7. USA
8. India.
During his visit to the team, the
Ambassador of Rwanda in Germany H.E Igor Cezar encouraged the lads to keep
dreaming big and never shut their talent, but to do all that is possible to
make it shine.
Also the Vice president of
FERWAFA in charge of Technical matters Mr. Richard Mugisha said that the
players have shown incredible and unmatched talents which left everyone
speechless, he added that it is the responsibility of the federation to help
these young talents flourish and with joint efforts these will be achieved.
Among other activities on the
sideline of the Bayern Munchen youth competition, children had a chance to
visit the official stadium of the Bayern Munchen senior team known as Allianz
Arena.