Paris Saint Germain Academy Rwanda youngsters already have their eyes set on becoming professional footballers after enjoying yet another impressive campaign during the just-concluded PSG Academy Club World Cup. The teams, coached by Grace Nyinawumuntu, were given a heroes’ reception at Kigali International Airport on Wednesday with champions’ medals and trophies after beating Brazil in the final to win the PSG Academy World Cup in both U11 and U13 categories. They were welcomed by fellow academy youngsters, parents and officials from both the football governing body (Ferwafa) and the Ministry of Sports among others. ALSO READ: Rwanda crowned PSG Club World Cup champions Samuel Shema brilliantly captained the U11 to the final where they beat the South American on 3-2 penalties after both teams played a 1-1 draw after normal time. Shema won the winning penalty and was named player of the tournament. His early success in football has now made him become hungrier for success in the future as a professional player. ALSO READ: Nyinawumuntu hails Rwandan starlets after PSG Club World triumph It is just the beginning of what we are dreaming to become. We played as a team and if you miss any part you cannot win the title, the purpose of the team is to win more but also to grow as a player,” he said. We were aggressive during the games, we learned something new in the tournament, because when you prove that you have a unique skills, it means that our team benefited from the tournament, he noted Derrick Ntakirutimana was another standout player during the tournament where he was the best goalkeeper in U11 category. Besides his individual accolade, Ntakirutimana said he was happy to return home with a trophy and, like his captain, he wants to become a professional player in the near future. I won the best goalkeeper prize because I followed all the instructions from the coach and that is what helped us win the trophy. We gained a lot from the tourney, Ntakirutimana said We just want to become top players. Football has become an important part of our life so we are ready to give our best. Our target is to become professional players and play in international competitions,” he added. Rwanda PSG academy beat giants Brazil to win the second edition of the PSG Academy Club World Cup in Paris on Monday, June 5 in both U-11 and U-13. Crispin Kanamugire Manzi also captained the U13 team that beat Brazil U13 4-3 on penalties as the pair finished the normal time tied on a 1-1 draw. They football hopeful said that they are trying to combine football and the education which he hopes the combination will help him in the future. We combine football with studies which is good for us as we are doing both in good manners and for the education we are given at school is the right platform. We want to become big stars in the future. This is the time to start thinking for our future by building principals in our game, He added ALSO READ:Rwanda beat Brazil to win U11 PSG Club World Cup The PSG Academy in Rwanda is becoming a force to reckon with as it has many great young talents who have already been tipped for future stardom. Officially inaugurated on November 27, 2021 in Huye, Southern Province, the academy is a flagship programme of the partnership between French football giants Paris Saint-Germain and Visit Rwanda, which aims at giving football hopefuls the opportunity to fulfil their potential in top-class sporting facilities with coaches specially trained by the club. It is part of a three-year sponsorship deal that was signed between Rwanda and the French football super club in December 2019 before it was extended early in May this year. The academy combines football and education as young talents are given the right platform to become big stars in future.
