Shema Ngoga Fabrice has resigned as President of the Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA), effective immediately. In a letter to the organization's General Assembly, he cited personal reasons and a desire to protect the integrity of the organization. Fabrice had been in the position for 13 months, during which time he implemented several initiatives to improve the sport in Rwanda.
Fabrice's resignation comes after he was embroiled in controversy surrounding his business dealings outside of football. He was accused of issuing unguaranteed checks and using forgery to obtain goods for his medical supply company, Africa Medical Supplier. In September 2022, he was sentenced to six months in prison, which was suspended for a year, and ordered to pay a fine of 3 million Rwandan francs.
According to FERWAFA's regulations, a person must not have been convicted of a crime punishable by more than six months in prison to be eligible for the presidency. Fabrice's conviction rendered him ineligible for the position, leading to his resignation. He expressed gratitude to those who supported him during his tenure, including the General Assembly, the Executive Committee, and the national team.
During his time in office, Fabrice implemented several initiatives to improve football in Rwanda. He increased funding for teams, including 80 million Rwandan francs for the champion of the top division and 10 million Rwandan francs for each of eight other teams. In total, 484 million Rwandan francs were distributed in prizes during his first year in office.
Fabrice also played a role in recruiting talented players from abroad to play for the Rwandan national team, the Amavubi. He helped the team prepare for international competitions, although he was unable to achieve his goal of qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations or the 2030 World Cup.
Following Fabrice's resignation, FERWAFA has been placed under the interim leadership of Claudine Gasarabwe, who previously served as First Vice President in charge of Finance and Governance. The organization will now begin the process of finding a new president to lead the sport in Rwanda.
Fabrice's resignation has raised questions about the future of football in Rwanda, but he expressed hope that the sport will continue to thrive under new leadership. He emphasized the importance of transparency and good governance in the organization, and offered to cooperate with the transition process to ensure a smooth handover.
Key points
- Shema Ngoga Fabrice resigned as President of FERWAFA due to personal reasons and a need to protect the integrity of the organization.
- Fabrice was embroiled in controversy surrounding his business dealings outside of football, which led to his conviction and ineligibility for the presidency.
- FERWAFA has been placed under the interim leadership of Claudine Gasarabwe, who will oversee the transition process and preparations for the next presidential election.
