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While giving his acceptance speech, the Rwandan president issued a Pan-African call, stressing that the continued talent drain and migration of African players to other continents is detrimental to the development of football in Africa.
President Paul Kagame of Rwanda has urged African football stakeholders to ensure that African players remain on the continent. Kagame believes that this will be a significant step in the development of African football.
Kagame's comments came shortly after he received the CAF President's outstanding achievement award alongside Morocco's Majesty Mohammed VI for their immense contribution to the game.
The award was given out by CAF President Patrice Motsepe in Rwanda, Kigali, as part of the ongoing FIFA Congress that is hosted by Rwanda.
While giving his acceptance speech, the Rwandan president issued a Pan-African call, stressing that the continued talent drain and migration of African players to other continents is detrimental to the development of football in Africa.
“Our best players in Africa should not always leave for Europe and other places to play football,” Kagame said, adding; “We should make sure we provide for them what attracts them to leave Africa so they stay and play here.”
President Kagame called on African football administrators to create an enabling environment for players to thrive and develop their skills on the continent.
He also urged them to improve the quality of football infrastructure and provide better financial incentives for players, so that they do not feel the need to move to other parts of the world in search of better opportunities.
"Retaining the best African players on the continent is essential for the development of African football. We must work together to create an enabling environment for players to thrive and become world-class players while remaining on the continent," Kagame stated.
"Let us work together to build a strong and sustainable football industry in Africa, by keeping our players on the continent.”
“This will not only help in the development of African football, but also contribute to the growth of our economies," he noted.
The President's call comes at a time when many African football players are leaving the continent for greener pastures in Europe and other parts of the world.
While this has helped these players to gain exposure and improve their skills, it has also left many African clubs struggling to compete at the highest level due to a lack of quality players.
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