Youth league project is the yearly football competition organized by CHRISC Rwanda for youth teams in the age categories of (U 13 and U 16) with the aim of providing a platform to the youths, coaches, referees, first aiders, peer leaders and sports coordinators to practice and improve their skills and performances in various capacities within the organization.

This yer Youth football league will operate in three zones named: GIKONDO, GATENGA and NYAMIRAMBO, It is starting on the 17^th March 2012 at the fields of ETO Kicukiro, Mumena Stadium and Congo School.

During this period of preparations, we tried to visit one of the CHRISC coaches who is preparing four teams (Three U13 teams and One U16 team) to participate in the Youth league:

CHRISC Rda: Good morning coach?

Dr. Danny : Good morning.

CHRISC Rda: What are your real names? We are asking that because we always hear people calling you Dr. Danny.

Dr. Danny : My real names are “Ndacyayisenga Daniel”

CHRISC Rda: How long have you been coaching?

Dr. Danny : I have been coaching since 2009; it is now three years time.

CHRISC Rda: Have you been coaching the same team for all these three years?

Dr. Danny : I started with one team (U 13), but now I have four different teams. One team for U 10, Two teams for U 13 and One team for U 16.

CHRISC Rda: Apart from the CHRISC Rwanda, Did you get a chance to participate in any other Tournament or league that is organized by any other Organization?

Dr. Danny : Yes, I participated in 3 different tournaments out of CHRISC.

CHRISC Rda: Did you see any kind of difference between CHRSC leagues or tournaments and those that are organized by other Organizations?

Dr. Danny : The difference that I can mention is that during these other leagues or tournaments, the objective is only to win the matches whereas in CHRISC our players get other knowledge apart from the football itself (Life skills, Conflict resolution skills, HIV/AIDS and Drug abuse awareness…)

CHRISC Rda: Thanks a lot for your time, we wish you all best during this coming league!

Dr. Danny : Welcome!

CHRISC Rda:   What’s your name?

  Uwamahoro:   Uwamahoro Eugenie

CHRISC Rda:   What’s your role in CHRISC Rwanda?

 Uwamahoro:   I am the Urugero Girls Project Coordinator and Football Coach, Girls team

CHRISC Rda:   When did you start coaching?

Uwamahoro:   I started coaching in November 2009 after attending a football coaching course organized by CHRISC Rwanda

CHRISC Rda:   What are your biggest achievements in the past 2 years as a coach?

Uwamahoro:   Being the overall runners up of East Africa Cup 2011 with the CHRISC Rda U-13 girls team and the immense increase of Girls’ interest in participating in sports.

  CHRISC Rda:   How did CHRISC Rda assist you in acquiring knowledge and experience in football coaching?

  Uwamahoro:   With CHRISC Rwanda, I attended football coaching course in Rwanda and I got the Opportunity to attend the other course in East Africa Cup in 2011 and through CHRISC Rda i have coached and participated in National and Regional tournaments.

 CHRISC Rda:   Where do you see yourself in the future and what are your plans in the future?

  Uwamahoro:   To become a professional female football coach who is popular!!

CHRISC Rda:     What are your expectations by being in CHRISC Rwanda?

Uwamahoro:     I expect to acquire different skills in sports, administration and coaching that will enhance my coaching career

CHRISC Rda: What’s your name?

Yumbe: Yumbe Olingo

CHRISC Rda: How old are you?

Yumbe: 15 years old

CHRISC Rda: Where do you live?

Yumbe: I live in Gikondo (Kigali, Rwanda)

CHRISC Rda: What’s your role in CHRISC Rwanda?

Yumbe: Football player in CHRISC Cetai and I’m also a Peer Leader.

CHRISC Rda: What are your biggest achievements?

Yumbe: I’ve got a lot of sports and life skills experience, all gained by participating in different leagues and tournaments through and in CHRISC like the following:

• Youth football league organized by CHRISC Rwanda
• Rwanda U17 National league
• East Africa Cup tournament (Best player in 2009 U13 boys category, Best player and top scorer in 2010 U13 boys category and semi finalist in 2011 U16 boys category)

CHRISC Rda: How did CHRISC Rwanda contribute in your development as a football player, young leader and a peer leader?

Yumbe: Through CHRISC Rwanda, I joined one of its teams and I got the opportunity to participate in national and regional leagues and tournaments. All the sports sessions have life skills and leadership integration. This gave me the opportunity to learn a lot as an upcoming leader in the organization and a leader and facilitator to fellow peers. 

CHRISC Rda: Where do you see yourself in the future?

Yumbe: I see myself becoming a professional football player like” Rooney” and also a person with great and fundamental life skills, that many will be looking upon as an example.

CHRISC Rda: What are your expectations by being in CHRISC Rwanda?

Yumbe: I expect CHRISC Rwanda to continue supporting my football career and continue the good work of creating a platform for youths to acquire sports and fundamental life skills, so that, they will always be able to make very informed choices and decisions in regards to their lives and future.

CHRISC owes its success to many volunteers who set up, every day, the activities of the organization. Thomson, Santos, Titi, Ngabo, Lazaro are the coordinators of CHRISC Rwanda projects and they all participate in this new video describing their path within the association. They will talk about their debut, their best time, what the organization has brought them and where they see CHRISC in the future.

A little surprise awaits you at the end of this documentary. ENJOY!

CHRISC Rwanda gives youths opportunities to participate and take part in the management of the organization’s focus. In Sports (football), daily trainings for youth football players are always conducted and managed by other youths who are coaches; This is the same even in other programs and projects. This builds self esteem, encouragement for these youths to open their mind and find out what they are capable of doing.

9 October 2011, CHRISC Rwanda gives the final blow of 7 month of intensive competition. The Youth League, which happened every years from March to October, aim to give the possibility to youth from 10 to 16 years old to express themselves and engaged them for society development through football. This year over 45 teams and more than 1400 youths have participated to the two championship U13 and U16, a spectacular grow for a so new League.

In fact, this project started as a pilot project for the organization in March 2009 only. Since that year, it has grown into an annual important league across Kigali to be the first one in the history of the country that focuses on youth sports participation with the integration of life skills, HIV/AIDS (through the Kicking Aids Program) and other social issues into it. Paul Otieno, national coordinator of CHRISC Rwanda, resume the purpose of the project:

“The goal of this league is to provide a platform for youths, coaches, referees, sports coordinators, sports injuries practitioners and peer leaders to practice their skills and Strength in various capacities within the organization. It is through the year round league that youth leaders are identified, recruited and trained into the organization in different capacities”.

But with this impressive grow, the volunteers of the organization have to face, new emerging challenges. Thomas Ndikuriyo, coordinator of the Youth League foreground some of them:

“The facilities is one of our biggest challenge. Especially, we always have to look for new football field to implement the league. And naturally, as CHRISC provided sports materials, such as shoes, shirts or balloons, for all of the players, we really need the help and the support of the community to continue our mission in the future”.

Learn more about the Youth League Project
Read the Interview of Thomson , in charge of the project

Thomson we want to welcome here at the field. Can you first make a small presentation of yourself?

My name is Ndikuriyo Thomas, I’m 19 years old. I’m currently the Kigali District Coordinator in CHRISC Rwanda. And I am also in charge of the Youth League Project.

Thomson, can you give us some details about this Youth League?

So this is a League for under 13 and under 16 age categories, and currently we are working in Kigali city.

How does the League works?

CHRISC championship work in three different zones which all have their own League, what we called Zonal Leagues. Then, after the Zonal leagues, the championship change in an Interzonal league, and all the champion of the zone come and play together. Currently, the League takes long from March to October every year.

Where and how do you get teams and participants for the League?

So we work in three different zone and inside of them we sent some registration letters to teams which are interested in Youth League. And either if it’s a CHRISC team or a community team, we welcome them for the League.

What are the challenges that you face during the implementation of this League?

The challenges that we face are most of the time related to facilities and over-aged players. But mostly facilities, I mean the fields to implement the League, are always challenging us.

Finally, do you have some recommendations for next League?

My recommendation for the next League, or what I would like in the future is to; Increase the implementations skills for my comity members. Try to reduce the number of over-aged players in partnership with the team coaches. Try to spread the message that the community should help us for the facilities, because we can not implement the League without this help. And you know, we are not doing this for us but for the entire community. And at least, we need more support like financial and materiel aids to continue our activities.

Read more about the Youth League Project

The planning exercise conducted and finilized on 22nd October 2011 at the National Office, was preceded by 2011 Summative Evaluation of all programs, projects, and key Sports Technical Departments with the ultimate presentations done on the 20th of October 2011.

Those who represented their committees, were present and contributed  to this very important exercise were:

1. NYANGEZI Papias – Finance and Admin Officer.

2. NGABONZIZA Jean Paul – Sports and Education Officer.

3. NDIKURIYO Thomson – Kigali District Coordinator and Youth League Project Coordinator.

4. NTIBITURA Jean Claude – Community and Government Liaison Officer and EAC Project Coordinator.

5. TUYSHIME Tharcisse – Street Kids Project Coordinator and Sports Injuries/First Aid Officer

6. UWAMAHORO Eugene – Girls Empowerment Project Coordinator.

7. UWERA Delhpine – Administrative Assistance, Girls Empowerment Project.

8. NTAWAKUDWANABOSE Jacque – Head Coach.

9. GAKIRE Patrick – Head Referee.

10. MANIRAGUHA Lazaro – Kicking AIDS Out Officer.

11. UWIMANA Albert – Media Officer.

12. UWIMANA Ally – Nyamirambo Zonal Coordinator.

13. HUSSEIN Seif – Gatenga Zonal Coordinator.

14. NJERI Catherine – Myself Project Coordinator.

15. OTIENO Paul – National Coordinator.