Infantino opens FIFA Regional Development office in Kigali

The world Football body, FIFA has today officially inaugurated a regional development office in the centre of Kigali, Rwanda.

Gianni Infantino inaugurated the office at the I & S Bank building in the City Centre. The government of Rwanda was represented by Foreign Affairs Minister Vincent Biruta, Sports Minister Aurore Mimosa Munyangaju and the President of the Rwanda Football body, FERWAFA Rtd Brig. General Jean-Damascene Sekamana.

The colorful ceremony was also attended by Presidents of Members Associations from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Somalia and Nigeria.

“ This regional office will be the heart of this part of the world interms of football development. “I thank the Rwanda President Paul Kagame and his govrnment for allowing that this office comes here,” said FIFA President.

“We have decided to open this regional office because we are aware that we need to do more for football development, competitions organization and we need to do more for East Africa because it is part of such a big passion for football. This office’s main task is not to organise meetings but to develop football,” added Infantino.

Among other things the regional office will coordinate all its related activities in specific regions, provide strategic guidance to regional Member Associations, and provide recommendations to FIFA Headquarters for development support in the region.

Rwanda’s Foreign Affairs Minister Biruta thanked FIFA for picking Rwanda to host the Development office. “This is a clear sign of excellent cooperation between the Rwanda government and FIFA,” added Biruta.

Previously the FIFA Development office was based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia before being moved to Kigali. Other FIFA regional development offices are already established in India, Malaysia, Paraguay, New Zealand, Panama, Senegal, Barbados, United Arab Emirates and South Africa.