On this Thursday, 20th November 2025, the halls of FERWAFA Headquarters carried a rare kind of energy, the kind that rises when hope meets structure, when ambition finally finds a seat at the table. Representatives from more than forty women’s football teams gathered, each carrying a dream, a badge, and a belief that the future of the Women’s D2 League deserved clarity, fairness, and vision.
The
meeting, chaired by the 2nd Vice President in charge of Technical Matters and
Development and acting General Secretary, brought together key architects of
Rwanda’s football progress namely, Mr. Desiré NIYITANGA, Commissioner for
Competitions, and Mrs. Nikita GICANDA Velverde, Commissioner for Women’s
Football Development, as well as the representative of the Club Licensing First
Instance Body, and together, they shaped a conversation that felt less like an
administrative session and more like the unveiling of a long-awaited dawn.
With
attentive silence filling the room, the chair explained the essence of the
decision:
the
upcoming D2 Women League would host no more than 14 teams,
while
the remaining clubs passionate but still meeting certain requirements, would
begin their journey from the 3rd Division, building structure from the ground
up.
This approach, deliberate and thoughtful, sought to strengthen not only the league but the spirit of competition itself.
“A
league is not just played on the pitch,”
the Chair emphasized, voice warm but firm. “It is built on organization,
responsibility and readiness. Today, we lay the foundation for a
stronger, more competitive future.” He said.
“Competitiveness
is a journey. And journeys require structure. This decision ensures that every
club grows at a pace that honors the game, and prepares every player for the
level they deserve.” He
added.
Mrs.
Nikita GICANDA Velverde, a tireless advocate for women’s football through the
women’s Football Development she leads:
“Women’s
football does not grow by chance; it grows by design. Today we choose design,
thoughtful, inclusive, and sustainable. Every team here has a place in the
future we are shaping.”
Unless
exceptional circumstances arise, the competitions are set to begin on 15th
December 2025, A date that now feels less like a calendar mark and more like a
milestone.
As
the meeting was ending, every representative from the most experienced clubs to
the newly aspiring ones expressed satisfaction with the resolutions taken.
The air carried relief, pride, and anticipation. The future of women’s football felt not only possible, but finally properly framed.