Rwanda envisages PSG projects as momentous in developing national sports
By George Kalisa
Rwanda has welcomed the launch of the PSG Academy that happened on November 27, 2021 in Huye District as significant contribution to national sports development efforts, said a statement issued by Rwanda Development Board (RDB) recently.
The landlocked East African Community country looks forward to receiving more PSG family.
“We are delighted to welcome PSG Legend Raí, his wife, Boris Becker and the whole group to Rwanda for this important occasion of launching the PSG Academy,” remarked Zephanie Niyonkuru, RDB’s Deputy CEO during the reception of Raimundo Souza Veira de Oliveira, also known as Raí on November26 in the capital, Kigali.
Niyonkuru added: “The academy is one of our partnership’s flagship projects, which will contribute significantly to our national sports development efforts. We look forward to welcoming more of the PSG family #Visit Rwanda”,
Former Paris Saint- Germain star Raí’s trip is part of Rwanda’s partnership with French football club Paris Saint- Germain.
Visit Rwanda and Paris Saint-Germain entered partnership in 2019.
Raí participated in the launch of PSG’s first academy in Rwanda, located in Huye District. He is the second PSG legend to visit Rwanda since the partnership was unveiled in 2019. PSG legend Youri Djorkaeff visited the country last year.
He was also joined by French social media entertainer Mr Boris Becker who was in the country for the launch of the academy.
According to the schedule announced by RDB the visitors would travel to Volcanoes National Park “to see the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat and other exciting activities”.
Raí said that the Academy and the partnership at large was an opportunity to develop Rwanda’s young sports talent.
“We are very excited to shine a light on the partnership between Visit Rwanda and Paris Saint-Germain and the opportunity it offers to develop Rwanda’s young sports talent. We also can’t wait to show you all that the Land of a Thousand Hills has to offer”.
Who is Raí?
Born in Riberao Preto, Brazil, Rai joined Sao Paulo in 1987, where he became the centrepiece of the great team that won the Copa Libertadores (South American Champions League) in 1992 and 1993. He signed to Paris Saint-Germain in 1992 and won the World Cup with Brazil in 1994. He played 215 official games played at PSG, scoring 72 goals and 30 assists. He was recently voted the best player in the history of Paris Saint-Germain in a fan vote to mark the club’s 50th anniversary.
Raí’s trip comes after two seasons of the #VisitRwanda x PSG partnership as the club’s premium Partner. Even with Covid-19 restrictions, which slowed down travel and activities under the partnership, Visit Rwanda and PSG were still able to connect through creative content showcasing Rwanda as a must-see destination for tourists and football fans.
