We all know soccer is the world’s most popular sport. It is by no doubt Rwanda’s most popular game too. Sometimes played with a life-and death attitude and sometimes played for the pure love of it. Rwandan soccer touches the young, the old, women and men. And they have all lived to see this regardless of one’s social status. The 1863 laws of the football game created a foundation for the way the sport is played today. If these same laws provided for the best patriotic and supporting society, Rwandans wouldn’t survive the award for years. Looking at the number of clubs and Rwandan football at its best, much has been done. It has offered the spirit of patriotism and professional outlook that have extensively attracted professional sportsmen within the region to offer their expertise. While at its best, the rest of the world will forego anything for the love of soccer. It is both a science and an art that has engaged human brains for decades, to have a domineering stand against opponents. This position of the Rwandan society to strongly take soccer as an opportunity cost for anything else has evolved for years, and it speaks volumes of words about the leadership that has worked at the restoration of the country’s image. As one of the areas that bring together opposing sides of humanity, any sport is known for its character formation when it comes to conceding defeat in a game where one has high chances of winning. The way leaders and society have taken the sport means it is not merely a game or competition for enjoyment. It has developed into an activity that requires effort and skill to enhance national development. If corporate companies have come up to invest in the sport, and if brides and grooms have been recommended to support the game for the love of it; just like any other sport that has lifted the development of various persons and nations, let’s continue to face it and go out into the field to beat our heads together for a common cause toward vision 2020. Betty Iyamuremye
