FERWAFA JOIN FIFA'S GLOBAL TALENT DEVELOPMENT SCHEME (TDS)

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‎The Rwanda Football Federatio is pleased to officially join FIFA’s global program known as the Talent Development Scheme (TDS), a unique initiative aimed at transforming and enhancing youth football development in Rwanda. This program seeks to establish strong and sustainable structures for identifying, training, showcasing, and developing young talents across the country.

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‎TDS is one of FIFA’s flagship programs designed to support its member associations in developing football from the grassroots level, with the goal of building a strong future for the sport and enabling national teams to compete successfully at the international level.

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‎Frédéric Crebiller Appointed as TDS Project Manager in Rwanda

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‎To ensure the effective implementation of this program, FIFA has appointed Frédéric Crebiller as the TDS Project Manager in Rwanda. Crebiller is an experienced coach holding a UEFA A License and hails from Évreux, France. He brings over 20 years of experience in youth football development, particularly across several African countries.

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‎Before arriving in Rwanda, Frédéric Crebiller served as Technical Director of the Académie Alima football academy in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo—an academy established in partnership with FIFA World Cup winner Blaise Matuidi. His expertise and experience are expected to yield tangible results in developing young Rwandan football talents.

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‎FERWAFA and FIFA Leadership Discuss TDS Implementation

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‎On the day of his official welcome, Frédéric Crebiller was received at FERWAFA headquarters in Remera, Kigali. He was accompanied by FIFA High Performance Specialist Antony Baffoe and the Director of the FIFA Office for East Africa, Davis Ndavisenga.

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‎They held a meeting with FERWAFA leadership led by Secretary General Bonnie Mugabe, Technical Director Gérard Buscher, and Head of Education Hamim Bazirake. Discussions focused on planning and strategies for implementing TDS in Rwanda, using modern methods of talent identification and development.

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‎Strong Youth National Teams and the 2028 FIFA U-17 World Cup

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‎FERWAFA President Fabrice Shema stated that this project will play a major role in raising the level of youth football, particularly in strengthening national youth teams, including women’s teams. He emphasized that the goal is to adequately prepare and support these teams to qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup scheduled for 2028.

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‎He added that investing in the development of young players is the foundation for building a stable and sustainable football system in Rwanda.

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‎FIFA Reaffirms Full Support to Rwanda

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‎Representing FIFA, Antony Baffoe reaffirmed FIFA’s commitment to providing full support for talent development in Rwanda. He noted that the focus will be on effective nationwide talent identification and scouting, delivering high-level training for coaches and development officers, and establishing clear and structured pathways for youth talent progression.

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‎Women’s Football at the Forefront

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‎As part of efforts to promote women’s football, Munyinya Stadium in Gicumbi District hosted a FIFA talent development activation aimed at nurturing girls’ football talent. The event brought together 96 girls under the ages of 13 and 15 from four different academies.

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‎The girls showcased their skills under the theme:

‎“Girls score goals, break barriers 💪💪.”

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‎The initiative aims to encourage young girls to embrace football from an early age and to expand equal opportunities in sports.

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‎Building the Future of Rwandan Football

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‎Children aged between 12 and 17 from across the country will receive training in technical skills, mental development, and life skills, ensuring their talents grow in a meaningful and sustainable way.

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‎The TDS project, implemented through a partnership between FERWAFA and FIFA, marks the beginning of a new journey toward transforming the future of football in Rwanda.

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‎Two years, countless dreams, one goal:

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‎“Creating the future stars of Rwandan football.”

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‎Written by: Migisha Janviére