Twelve children have been selected from a group of 150 to attend a special football training camp with Arsenal Football Club in England, as part of the ongoing partnership between the English club and the Government of Rwanda.
According to Igihe, the selection event took place on Friday, July 4, 2025, at Green Hills Academy in Kigali. It brought together young players from various football academies across the city, including a significant number from FTPR Lions Academy, which operates within the Green Hills campus.
During the event, several matches were organized among the children to assess their football skills, while coaches carefully observed and identified those who stood out the most. The goal was to find exceptionally talented players who would benefit from the international exposure and training.
Shining Football Academy emerged as the winner in the under-nine category, while FTPR Lions Academy clinched overall victory, outperforming other academies such as Agaciro Football Academy, Centre Gikondo, and Esperance Football Academy.
Following the competitions, twelve outstanding players were selected to travel to the UK next week for a three-week training camp with Arsenal. Their journey is supported by Green Hills Academy and Kigali International Community School.
Mbabazi Alain, Director of FTPR Lions Academy, expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of the event, emphasizing that the main objective was achieved. He added that the selected children are expected to perform well and possibly secure long-term opportunities with Arsenal.
