Under the theme “Giving every talent a chance, today 11th December 2025, The FERWAFA President, Mr. Fabrice SHEMA NGOGA, alongside the General Secretary Mr. Bonnie MUGABE, and members of the Executive Committee, presided over a high-level press conference today that focused on the rollout of the FIFA-FERWAFA Talent Development Scheme (TDS) for the next two years in Rwanda.

The initiative was presented to the sports media by FIFA High Performance Specialist Mr. Antony Baffoe, Mr. Frédéric Crébiller, who will serve as the lead talent coach during the implementation phase, and Mr. Gérard Buscher, the National Technical Director.

President Shema Ngoga emphasized the urgent need for structural and performance improvements in Rwanda’s youth football system, noting that the TDS presents a historic opportunity for long-term change.

“If this project is implemented with commitment and discipline,” he stated, “it will put an end to the poor performance that has been affecting our youth teams. We want to see Rwandan junior teams at the World Cup in 2028, performing strongly in AFCON, and ultimately raising the level of our senior national team.”

FIFA’s High-Performance Specialist, Antony Baffoe, reaffirmed FIFA’s dedication to supporting Rwanda’s football development ecosystem across both technical and structural pillars.

“The goal of this project is to make Rwanda great again in football,” Baffoe said. “TDS is designed to make Rwandan teams more competitive internationally. It does not stop at players; it also strengthens the capacity of elite coaches and scouts who are essential for sustainable success.

He highlighted that the focus on talent identification, consistent development pathways, and structured monitoring will create the first truly nationwide and data-driven approach to nurturing Rwandan footballers.

The TDS is a global FIFA initiative aimed at supporting Member Associations to build sustainable, long-term talent development systems. It focuses on identifying young players early, providing them with elite training environments, and strengthening the ecosystem around them, including coaches, scouts, academies, and performance structures. In Rwanda, the scheme will run for two years, with clear objectives, regular monitoring, and hands-on support from FIFA experts.