Thirteen Rwandan youth coaches, including legendary former captain Haruna Niyonzima, have been selected for an intensive nine-month training program led by Atlético Madrid to enhance the country’s football methodology.
Thirteen Rwandan youth football coaches have been selected to participate in an elite nine-month training program delivered by Spanish giants Atlético Madrid.
The initiative, part of the “Visit Rwanda” partnership with the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), aims to revolutionize the country’s technical and tactical coaching standards.
Chosen from 43 applicants, the group includes ten men and three women, featuring former national captain Haruna Niyonzima.
The curriculum focuses on the prestigious Academia Atlético de Madrid methodology, blending online modules with intensive, hands-on mentorship.
Participants will deepen their understanding of modern game principles, focusing on capacity building at the grassroots level.
Carlos Cano, Atlético’s International Sports Coordinator, emphasized that the goal is to equip local talent with the knowledge required to pursue professional coaching careers even beyond the African continent.
While much of the training will be conducted remotely, the coaches will periodically travel to Spain for practical sessions at Atlético’s world-class facilities.
This exchange program is designed to create a sustainable pipeline for Rwandan talent, ensuring that youth players receive international-standard instruction.
FERWAFA President Fabrice Shema hailed the project as a monumental step toward long-term competitiveness in regional and global football.