PSG Academy Rwanda were on Monday crowned 2023 PSG Club World Cup champions after beating Brazil in the final both in the U11 and U13 categories to take home both trophies that were up to contest for in the French Capital.
PSG Rwanda U11 defeated powerhouse Brazil in the final to win the second edition of the PSG Academy Club World Cup in Paris on Monday, June 5.
The team, coached by Grace Nyinawumuntu, and the South American giants settled for a 1-1 draw after normal time before the game went into penalty shootout.
Rwanda scored four of the five kicks against Brazil’s three to claim their first title of the competition in which they finished fourth in 2022
In the Under 13 category, PSG Rwanda retained the trophy they won last year after beating Brazil again in the final.
It was a hard-fought game as boys from both teams showcased quality football and played out a 1-1 draw in the normal time.
The champions had to be decided through penalty shootouts which ended in favor of Rwanda after seeing off Brazil 4-3 on penalties.
“It’s a great achievement to win a trophy but defending it is really difficult. The boys had to work harder to defend their title in U14 and I am proud of them, same goes with the U11, they fought to the last minute and they’re coming back home with a trophy,” Nyinawumuntu told Times Sport.
Rwanda’s U11 PSG Academy team celebrate the crucial victory as they defeated Brazil 4-3 on penalty shootouts in a final at Parc de Princes to win the PSG Academy Club World Cup.Courtesy
“People might think that we won against an average Brazil side but we all know that Brail is a world class footballing nation. We beat tough Brazil and this is a statement that Rwanda’s got talent. It’s just matter of giving these young boys time and I have a feeling that, in these young boys, the future of Rwandan football is bright,” she added.
Rwanda U11 skipper Samuel Shema was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) while Derrick Ntakirutimana was given the goalkeeper of the tournament award.
The PSG Academy in Rwanda is becoming a force to reckon with as it has many great young talents who have already been tipped for future stardom.
Officially inaugurated on November 27, 2021 in Huye, Southern Province, the academy is a flagship programme of the partnership between French football giants Paris Saint-Germain and Visit Rwanda, which aims at giving football hopefuls the opportunity to fulfil their potential in top-class sporting facilities with coaches specially trained by the club.
It is part of a three-year sponsorship deal that was signed between Rwanda and the French football super club in December 2019 before it was extended early in May this year.
The academy combines football and education as young talents are given the right platform to become big stars in future.
