For any football nation to thrive, it depends on its youth set up, particularly the Under 20 level where the stars of the future are made. In world football, players like Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero just to mention a few were spotted at this level and they went on to reach the highest apogee in world football. Narrowing it to Africa, the Black Stars of Ghana had won the AFCON on four occasions but had not been at the world cup until 2006 in Germany. A host of players of that team which made it to Germany and reached the second round namely Michael Essien, Sulley Muntari, John Mensah, John Paintsil, Addoquaye Pappoe and Razak Pimpong were integral members of the Ghana U-20 team which reached the finals of the Juvenile world cup in Argentina in 2001. Again, Ghana benefited from solid youth policy in 2010 as the team which reached the quarter finals of the world cup in South Africa had Andre Ayew, Jonathan Mensah, Samuel Inkoom and Daniel Agyei who had helped the country to win the U20 AFCON in Rwanda and the World Cup in Egypt in 2009. Certainly, with Rwanda seeking to revive its senior national team, one of the areas the countrys ruling football body (FERWAFA) should take a critical look at to make this dream a reality is the youth sector. As the saying goes, the stars for tomorrow are made today.” FERWAFA should make sure that Rwanda has a solid youth team set up as the players could be the bedrock of the Amavubi for even a decade. Rwanda withdrew from the 2020 CECAFA U-20 championship in Tanzania as FERWAFA stated that after a long break due to the Covid-19 pandemic, schools had just been re-opened and most of the players of the team were students and cannot miss school for the competition. From October 10 this year, another CECAFA Under 20 tournament will be played in a yet to be determined country as the region seeks representatives for the 2023 U20 AFCON of which four nations from there will represent the continent in the world cup in Indonesia. A host of countries on the continent have started preparations for their regional event. The Black Satellites of Ghana who play in the WAFU division are already in camp. As it stands now, it is not yet known whether Rwanda will feature in the CECAFA zone or withdraw again. In terms of talents at the Under 20 level, Rwanda has some quality players who could have a major elevation through the tournament and can even propel the nation to the world cup in Indonesia. The likes of Yves Mitsindo of KV Mechelen, APR FCs Anicet Ishimwe and Keddy Nsanzimfura, Kennedy Hoziana of Bugesera FC, Jonathan Nsanzimana of SSV Ulm in Germany, Nathan Itangishaka of Feyenoord, and Sanders Ngabo of Danish outfit Lyngby are all within the age limit. These are all great teenagers who can be in the Rwandan team for the CECAFA Under 20 tournament later this year and with a good tactical brain as well as good preparations, there is no doubt that they cannot win a laurel for the country. The most basic and important part is the preparations. A good scouting exercise should be done in the second division and also in the Academies within the country to get quality players who fall within the age range and non-residential camping can begin. With quality players from scouting coupled with the good talents from the previous U17 team and the likes of Ishimwe and Hoziana who already have top level experience together with the players from abroad, Rwanda can build a solid team for the CECAFA tournament in October. If Rwanda is able to produce a formidable team for the CECAFA competition and they go all out, there is no way the country cannot have a strong core of players for the Amavubi in the near future. The 2026 world cup in the US, Mexico and Canada seems to be far but is not far as in two years’ time, qualifications will start. Rwanda can build a very good Under 20 team now which can progress to the senior level.
