The maiden U-15 girls’ national football tournament kicks off today and will run through to November 27 at different grounds around the country.

The month-long tournament comes live, thanks to a partnership between Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA) and the world’s football governing body (FIFA) through the Live Your Goals (LYG) concept that was developed in 2011 at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany.

The showpiece follows the ‘Live Your Goals’ festival that was held a couple of months ago. The competition has attracted a total of 52 youth teams.

The tournament is structured to take place under zones. The Eastern Zone has the biggest number with 17 teams; South-West Zone has 13 teams; Kigali Zone has registered 12 teams; while the North-West Zone has 10 teams.

After the zonal competitions, the top three teams from each zone will qualify for the national level finals, which will be played in Kigali.

The U-15 girls competition is aimed at instilling the interest of playing football into young girls under the age of 15 as well as encouraging more women to join the world’s most played sport.

Registered teams:

Kigali Zone: Maranatha, Dominators, La Fontaine, Tigers, Together Force, Destiny Girls, Bright Future, Youth Training Center, New Solution, St. Trinity, Nkanga Football Centre and Kamonyi Training Centre.

Eastern Zone: Gatsibo Academy, Ineza, Rubona, Rwimishinya, Katamapoto, Rugarama, Intashya, Kayonza football centre, Rwamagana, Fyer, Imanzi, Ngoma academy, Rukomo, Mimura, Rwimiyaga, Karama and Nasho football academy.

South- West Zone: Top Girls, The Winners, Misizi, Mutara FTC, Building Peace FTC, Gatagara FTC, Nyanza FTC, Ecole Secondaire de Nyanza, Rwoga, Amizero y’Ubuzima FTC, Cyarwa FTC, Les Lionnes and Umurabyo FTC.

Western-Northern Zone: Black Eagle, White Stars, Ndengera, Nyakiriba, Abarashi, Rw 155, Volcano, Techno, Freedom and Gasiza Training Centre.

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