U-20 starts 2009 preps next week

The under-20 national team regroups on Monday ahead of the 17th edition of the African youth championships due to be held in Kigali, Rwanda next year.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

The under-20 national team regroups on Monday ahead of the 17th edition of the African youth championships due to be held in Kigali, Rwanda next year.

The Ferwafa Chief Executive Officer Jules Kalisa told Times Sport yesterday that the youth team will hold its double training sessions at Nyamirambo artificial turfed stadium as they reside at Ferwafa hostel.

"The players are set to reside at the federation’s soccer academy a feat which implies that’s open for its activities," Kalisa said.

The U-20 team managers, Croatian born Tomislav and national coaches Eric Nshimiyimana, Yves Rwasamanzi and Claude Ishimwe have a task of assembling a strong team for the championship.

The team is expected to head to either Germany or Japan after the first round of the national football league to enhance their training.

Ferwafa has also confirmed that Nyamirambo and Amahoro will host the two-week long tournament.

In a related development, the World’s football body Fifa has named Egypt as hosts of next year’s 2009 U-20 World Cup.

The winners of the African youth championship in Rwanda will automatically join Egypt in the World Finals due in Cairo.

The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) has already confirmed that six stadiums will used to host the World youth finals. They are: Cairo International Stadium, Military Academy, Alexandria Borg Al-Arab, Harras Al-Hodoud, Port Said Masri and Ismailia.

Egypt previously hosted the U-17 World Cup in 1997 while Nigeria was the last African country to host the U-20 tournament in 1999.

FIFA U-20 World Cup is formerly known as the FIFA World Youth Championship. The new name was used for the first time in 2007 when Canada hosted U-20 World Cup.

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