• Rwanda to host Arsenal Soccer Clinic for the first time- 26 youngsters to participate in the clinic- 16 boys and 10 girls • Rwanda to pilot a 2 day Coach the Coaches session

Kigali, Rwanda. April 23, 2014. Rwanda will for the first time participate in the in the Arsenal Soccer Clinic slated to kick-off on April 28, 2014.

The week-long training will see a total of 26 youngsters; 16 boys and 10 girls trained in the Arsenal way of playing football. The clinic aims at nurturing talents of the U17 players who excelled at last year’s Airtel Rising Stars intercontinental tournament held in Lagos, Nigeria in which 12 African countries participated.

The Clinic, a first of its kind in the country will be managed by certified coaches from Arsenal Soccer Schools program who will offer the selected youngsters a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience the ‘Arsenal Way of playing’. The courses are based on the same principles used at the club’s training ground, developing young player technical skills and passion for the game to ensure the players’ potential is realized.

Commenting on this, Airtel Rwanda’s Managing Director, Mr. Teddy Bhullar said, “This clinic is part of Airtel initiatives to identify, develop and nurture young football talent.”

He added, “We at Airtel as proud sponsors of this clinic are privileged that Rwanda is hosting this year’s Arsenal Soccer Clinic. Airtel will continue to support sports education in the country to ensure that the game remains strong right from the roots.”

The Clinic draws four participants from Uganda, seven participants from Nigeria, five participants from Zambia, six participants from Ghana and four participants from Rwanda.

In addition, Rwanda will pilot a 2 day Coach the Coaches session where the Arsenal Soccer School coaches will run a 2 day training course for 30 pre-selected under 17 team soccer coaches from different parts of Rwanda. The session set to start on Saturday, May 3, 2014 will not only equip coaches with tips of the Arsenal way of playing football but will polish their already existing skills.

“We want our Rwandan coaches to learn from the best so that they can pass this on to the youth. We are doing this to make ensure that the football foundation in the country stays strong,” Magara said.

“Football is key for us at Ferwafa and we appreciate Airtel’s support of the game. We know that our youngsters and the 30 coaches will benefit from this Clinic and training as they will be trained by the best,” Mr. Degaule Vincent Nzamwita, president of Ferwafa, said.

Airtel Rising Stars is the biggest U17 Pan African football tournament that provides a platform for upcoming football talent to showcase their skills to leading scouts and coaches while providing an opportunity to further their skills.

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