Source: Ferwafa.rv

The Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA) Extra ordinary general assembly passed the resolution to have a 16-team league effective 2015/16 season.

The decision was passed during the Ferwafa’s extra ordinary general assembly which was held at Boni Consili hotel in Huye District from August 29-30.

The aim of the extra ordinary general assembly was to review the Ferwafa statute, internal regulations and competition regulations as well as the performance contract for the 2015-16 among other things.

The decision to approve the 16-team league was passed in article 10 of the competition regulations. The extra ordinary general assembly agreed to have 2 more teams in the Rwanda Premier League, making it 16 teams in total for the next season.

The two teams will be determined in a play-off tournament which will be held before the new season starts on September 18, 2015.

Teams which will take part in the play-off tournament include two relegated teams from the 2014/15 first division league plus two more teams which were knocked out in the semi-final of the second division league.

The two winners will earn promotion to the Rwanda Premier League for the 2015/16 season. Participating clubs in the play-off tournament will field players who played in the 2014/15 season. It was also passed that this criterion will always be used for any instances that involve teams to be promoted to any kind of division.

Some of the main resolutions passed includs;

1. In Article 9 of the Ferwafa statute, the extra ordinary general assembly passed the decision granting all women football clubs to be represented in the General Assembly just like other members who fulfill the needed provisions as mentioned in the law.

2. In Article 19, section four, Ferwafa members agreed to have an Adhoc committee established during the election process and members of the Adhoc committee should have the right to express their views but will not be allowed to vote or vie for any FERWAFA position so as to fully abide to FIFA and CAF provisions.

3. In Article 25, section 1 ; the Extra Ordinary General Assembly agreed that the ordinary general assembly should always be held not later than the first quarter of each year. This meeting will be convened by the FERWAFA President. The Vice president can also have the power to convene the meeting in the absence of the president. In case of a crisis, the meeting can be convened upon request from ¾ of the Ferwafa general assembly as specified in the legal status.

4. In Article 31, the extra ordinary general assembly agreed that during the elections of the FERWAFA President, each aspiring candidate will submit a list of 12 members who will comprise his executive committee to be elected for the next term of office by the FERWAFA members. 30% of the members on the executive committee of each aspiring candidate’s list should be women in bid to respect the gender equality.

5. The extra ordinary general assembly passed the resolution to disband the media commission and beef up the Communication and Marketing Department of Ferwafa.

6. In Article 53 of the Ferwafa statute, the extra ordinary general assembly agreed to have the appeals committee given the mandate to operate and have a normal governing board led by the President, Vice President and the Secretary General. This committee will also head the Adhoc committee meant to conduct the FERWAFA elections.

7. The extra ordinary general assembly also passed the resolution to have all the match reports to be sent to Ferwafa via email by match commissioners and should not exceed 24 hours after the game.

8. In article 89 of the competitions regulations, the extra ordinary general assembly passed the resolution of banning any second division club for a period of one season and relegating any first division club to second division league should they fail to honour any of their matches (first and second leg) for three consecutive times.

9. In article 41 of the competitions regulations ; in order to determine the standing of clubs in any normal Ferwafa league, in a scenario where clubs are tied on the same points, a decision will be passed based on the matches which pitted both sides (first leg and second leg). In case there is a draw in matches which pitted both sides, a play-off match will always be played to determine the winner.

10. The extra ordinary general assembly also agreed that in bid to curb out match fixing in local matches, the Ferwafa executive committee will establish an independent commission in charge of addressing match fixing which will work closely with Rwanda National Police to restrain out this issue.

The extra ordinary general assembly also agreed on the Ferwafa performance contract for 2015-2016. The Ferwafa Performance Contract is based on good governance administration, Development of football, Management of Resources and Promotion of Sports for all and equity.

In Good governance, Ferwafa have tasked themselves to have a legal status by the start of 2016 ; to ensure that clubs comply with club licensing rules in 2016 for them to participate in the Caf competitions.

In football development, Ferwafa will have a training on Anti-doping for team doctors before the end of 2016 ;Secure Medical insurance for players to participate in the first division league in 2015 and Set up Ferwafa rehabilitation centre for players after surgery and injuries by January 2016 among others.

In Youth development, Ferwafa will develop a database for young players registration ; stage ; youth competition for talent identification by organizing U15, U16, U17 camps for national team selection by April 2016 ; build a strong technical department by recruiting a technical director and his assistant capable before the end of April 2016, recruit a permanent Amavubi assistant coach and goalkeeper’s coach before the end of 2015. Ferwafa will also empower referees, coaches and club administrators by 2016.

In Management of resources and activities, Ferwafa is working on ensuring that more sponsors for national football league are secured ; have a monthly report in 2016, organize premier league, women league, youth league, peace cup and pre-season tournaments, enhance relationship with media by getting more experienced journalists in football training,

In the Promotion of sports values, inclusion and equity, Ferwafa will establish sport for all-veteran football tournament ; empower women national football league in gender equity by organizing advanced courses in coaching and referees ; have 20 women coaches with CAF C license and have at least 8 international referees and 10 local new women referees before 2016.

The FERWAFA President Vincent Nzamwita also informed the general assembly that Tanzanian pay-tv Azam TV is the official sponsor and broadcaster of the Rwanda Premier League.

He said that Ferwafa and Azam TV signed a 5-year contract with Azam TV set to inject $350,000 in the first year before increasing the annual offer to $500,000 in each of the remaining four years until 2019.

20% of the sponsorship will go into second division league clubs to build their base in football development ; 40% will go to Ferwafa to address administration related issues which includes payment of referees, medical insurance for the players who will compete in the league among others while the remaining 40% will be split in the first division league clubs.

The Ferwafa general assembly also contributed 29,600,000 to the Agaciro Development Fund following the climax of the Agaciro month.

First Division clubs contributed Rwf. 16,000,000 ; Second Division clubs contributed Rwf.6,900,000, Women Football clubs contributed Rwf 1,200,000 ; the referees association contributed Rwf. 500,000 while Ferwafa staff and the executive committee contributed Rwf. 5,000,000 to the solidarity fund aims to build ‘prosperity for Rwandan generations’.

@bonfaceosano