KIGALI - PRESIDENT Paul Kagame last evening became the first known Rwandan to lay his hands on the Fifa World Cup trophy at Amahoro National Stadium. The coveted trophy was unveiled in Rwanda on the 34th stopover of its African tour after arriving from Burundi on Monday night. The Fifa World Cup trophy was displayed at the open stadium giving privilege to all Rwandans who filled the stadium to have a glance at the most recognised sports trophy. Receiving the trophy at the stadium, President Kagame thanked Fifa and Coca Cola for bringing the World Cup trophy to Rwanda. “We hope to retain this trophy one day, we will work for it one day and we will win this trophy.” “This may not be achieved during my term of office but hopefully in my life time,” Kagame said. He added that the trophy symbolizes the importance of football, unity, peace and prosperity across the world.
KIGALI - PRESIDENT Paul Kagame last evening became the first known Rwandan to lay his hands on the Fifa World Cup trophy at Amahoro National Stadium.
The coveted trophy was unveiled in Rwanda on the 34th stopover of its African tour after arriving from Burundi on Monday night.
The Fifa World Cup trophy was displayed at the open stadium giving privilege to all Rwandans who filled the stadium to have a glance at the most recognised sports trophy.
Receiving the trophy at the stadium, President Kagame thanked Fifa and Coca Cola for bringing the World Cup trophy to Rwanda.
"We hope to retain this trophy one day, we will work for it one day and we will win this trophy.”
"This may not be achieved during my term of office but hopefully in my life time,” Kagame said.
He added that the trophy symbolizes the importance of football, unity, peace and prosperity across the world.
"We are therefore happy to be associated with the trophy today, as well as Fifa and Coca Cola who have partnered with the world football body to bring the trophy to this country. Kagame also expressed gratitude to Bralirwa for their central role in partnering with both Fifa and Coca Cola to bring the World Cup trophy to Rwanda.
Kagame became the first and only Rwandan to touch the world’s most coveted sports icon and symbol of football supremacy.
Several soccer-loving fans managed to take souvenir photos with the trophy at the stadium later in the evening but it only ended at taking photos and not touching it.
The trophy was taken to Serena Hotel last night for VIP viewing and it will leave the country on Thursday for Kampala, Uganda.
The trophy route covers 86 countries and will take 225 days to travel, to allow thousands of fans around the globe to see the real solid-gold trophy.
The 2009/10 FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour draws on the huge success of the first global Trophy Tour held in 2006.
In 2006, the tour visited 31 cities in 29 countries, covering 102,570 kilometres (63,734 miles) with millions of fans around the world enjoying the chance to have a closer look at football’s most famous prize.
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