On June 24, members of Rwanda football federation (Ferwafa) will pick the next president of the local FA as well as other leaders to fill vacant positions in the executive committee. The new FA boss will replace Olivier Mugabo Nizeyimana who resigned from office on April 19, citing personal reasons including what he termed as “a lot of work.” Weekend Sport brings you all you need to know about the upcoming elections. The roadmap The FA General Assembly will elect the new President alongside the Executive Committee who will serve a two-year term from 2023-2025 to finish the term of Olivier Nizeyimana Mugabo who resigned last month. According to Ferwafa Electoral commission boss, Adolphe 'Camalade' Kalisa, the commission will be receiving applications for interested candidates between May 22 and May 25. The provisional list of approved candidates will be announced on June 6 and the final list will be made official on June 13. Campaigns for qualified candidates will officially start on June 14 and end on June 23 just one day before the elections. Who is eligible? Any Rwandan aspiring to become the FA president must be aged not below 28 years and not above 70 years old, as provided by article 20 of the federation’s internal regulations concerning elections. The candidate must be a person of integrity, have experience and skills and have provided outstanding services to football and must speak at least two languages officially recognized by the federation. The aspirant should not have been convicted or served a prison sentence for six months or above and should not have been formally suspended by a competitive disciplinary organ from FERWAFA, CAF and FIFA. The eligibility requirements also include having at least completed six years of secondary school education or equivalent with a diploma, having been active in football (as a player or in football administration) between two and five years. Aspiring candidates must also have recommendations from their respective clubs. The clubs must be members of FERWAFA. The members of the FA will also vote for new members to fill in vacant posts in the executive committee (EXCOM). Only individuals who resigned from their posts in the executive committee will be replaced. How long will the new FA committee stay in office? Nizeyimana stepped down after serving two years of his four-year term that was expected to end in June 2024. The extraordinary general assembly held on May 15 agreed that the new president and the rest of the Executive Committee will stay in office for the two remaining years. Meanwhile, Marcel Matiku Habyarimana has been tasked to take charge of the federation as interim president until the new FA boss is elected. Habyarimana has been serving as Ferwafa vice-president since 2018. The general assembly also voted Gorilla FC Chairman and proprietor Hadji Yussuf Mudaheranwa and Inyemera WFC president Ancille Mukankaka to assist Habyarimana lead the executive committee throughout the 39-day interim term.
