The Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA) is hosting the FIFA Member Association (MA) Refereeing Course for Young Talents from 6 to 10 July 2026, reaffirming its commitment to developing the next generation of elite match officials in Rwanda.

The five-day programme is being delivered under the guidance of FIFA Technical Instructor Celestin Ntagungira, who is representing FIFA throughout the course, alongside FIFA Fitness Instructor Hanashi Boubakar from Tunisia. The training combines classroom sessions with practical and fitness-based exercises aimed at equipping young referees with the technical knowledge, physical standards and decision-making skills required at the highest level of the game.

Speaking during the opening of the course, FERWAFA President Fabrice Shema Ngoga encouraged the participants to embrace continuous learning and strive for excellence throughout their refereeing careers.

He urged the young referees to keep up with the ever-evolving Laws of the Game, embrace emerging technologies, and work towards becoming Video Assistant Referee (VAR)-compatible officials, a key milestone on the pathway to officiating at CAF and FIFA competitions. He also challenged them to dream bigger, maximize their potential and make full use of the world-class football infrastructure available in Rwanda to accelerate their development.

FIFA Technical Instructor Celestin Ntagungira commended FERWAFA for the excellent organization of the course, praising the federation for ensuring that all the logistics required by FIFA were available on time.

“I would like to thank FERWAFA for the excellent organization of this course. All the logistical requirements requested by FIFA were provided in a timely manner. I am confident these young referees will make the most of this opportunity, work hard throughout the course and grow into outstanding referees in the years ahead,” he said.

The FIFA MA Refereeing Course reflects the shared commitment of FIFA and FERWAFA to investing in youth development and strengthening the quality of officiating in Rwanda, ensuring that promising referees are prepared to meet international standards and progress onto the continental and global stage.