The FIFA President Gianni Infantino relayed basis stone the FERWAFA Hotel which is to boost the growth of the game as well as create long lasting and sustainable income generation activities.
The relay foundation stone event was attended by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sports and Culture, Lt. Col. Patrice Rugambwa, General Assembly members, former Executive Committee members of Rwanda Football Federation and other presidents from other sports federations in Rwanda namely cycling, basketball, Sports Scolaire among others.
Prior to commissioning the hotel, Infantino watched the Azam Rwanda Premier League match where Police Fc played a 2-all draw against Rayon Sports at Amahoro Stadium.
Addressing the invitees, the Swiss-born lawyer underscored the importance of having such infrastructures as a pillar to the country’s football development aspirations:
“This project (Ferwafa Hotel) is among many projects that we are happy to support with an aim of ensuring that the development of football not only in Rwanda becomes a reality. FIFA will continue to support Rwanda in its plans to take the game to another level,”
“I want to thank the leadership of FERWAFA President, Vincent Nzamwita for his commitment in developing the sport in Rwanda. Rwanda has potential in becoming a powerful sporting nation and such projects will help to ensure that this ambition is attained,”
“I also thank President Paul Kagame, a staunch football fan who has shown his passion and love for the game especially in his annual commitment of the CECAFA Kagame Cup sponsorship,” added Infantino.
The FERWAFA President Nzamwita said, “Upon completion, the hotel will generate revenues to the federation which will in turn be invested in various areas such youth development and women football,”
FIFA is financing 65% of the total cost while an additional financial support is being raised from other local banking partners.
Upon completion, the hotel is expected to ease on the cost that the Ministry of Sports and Culture (MINISPOC) incurred on national teams during residential training or accommodation for visiting national teams.
FERWAFA is also expected to use the hotel for commercial purposes to generate income for different footballing activities.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sports and Culture, Lt. Col. Patrice Rugambwa reiterated the government’s support towards FERWAFA and pledged continued partnership aimed at further fostering the sport.
The FIFA President is expected to end his two-day historical stopover today after visiting Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre in Gisozi where he is expected to pay tribute to the victims of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi before leaving the country in the afternoon.
The FERWAFA hotel is part of the FIFA development programme aimed at helping developing countries to establish infrastructure and facilities to boost the growth of the game as well as creating long lasting and sustainable income generation activities.
Source: Ferwafa.rw
