Remember Nicolas Anelka? Recall that he played for Arsenal, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Man City, Fenerbahce, Bolton Wanderers, Chelsea, Shanghai Shenhua, Juventus, West Brom and Mumbai City, and had two spells at PSG? Well, Anelka wasn't the only most high-profile graduate of the PSG academy in the modern era.

 

Patrice Evra’s career might be best remembered for his eight-year spell with Manchester United, but the 81-time France international, also turned out for Juventus, Marseille and West Ham. But Evra came through the PSG youth ranks in 1997-1998.

 

So did Kingsley Coman. The flying winger, arguably the most high-profile PSG academy product still playing the game, now plays for the German Goliath, Bayern Munich.

 

The list of former products of the kings of French football (PSG) academy who left to succeed elsewhere is long but let's just stop at Coman. The case has been made. Right?

 

Enter the PSG Academy World Cup. The Paris Saint-Germain Academy's premier annual event has been held since 2016. Thousands of football lovers from all over the world visit French capital, Paris, and enjoy a unique three-day football experience every year.

 

The latest gala was from June 2 to 6.

 

And, guess what? In the end, Samuel Shema, a Rwandan kid who scored the lone goal for his country’s U11 side in the final, against PSG Academy-Brazil, was named the tournament’s MVP. Oh, yes. The most valuable player. Better still, Shema's compatriot Derrick Ntakirutimana grabbed the goalkeeper of the tournament award after conceding only four goals in eight games.

 

There was more.

 

Rwanda’s U11 and U13 teams were, respectively, crowned 2023 PSG Club World Cup champions after beating Brazil in the final at the Parc des Princes. Rwanda’s U13 team retained the trophy it first won in 2022 after trouncing Brazil in the final 4-3 on penalties. The U11 team also earned their first title of the competition in which they finished fourth in 2022 after beating Brazil 3-2 on penalties.

 

Shema and all the other kids in the PSG Academy which is based in Huye district, in southern Rwanda, don’t live and train in Paris but it is still a PSG Academy anyway. True, time will tell. And it will take dedication, patience, care, love, and more, to make the dream come true. There is hope. That matters a lot, if you know the Rwandan story. And spirit.

 

The youngsters’ victory sparked joy, and hope, in the hearts of the country’s football fans. Sports commentators believe that PSG Academy Rwanda shows a brighter future for football in the east African country.

 

“People might think that we won against an average Brazil side but we all know that Brazil is a world class footballing nation. We beat tough Brazil and this is a statement that Rwanda has got talent. It’s just matter of giving these young boys time. I have a feeling that, in these young boys, the future of Rwandan football is bright,” the team's senior coach, Grace Nyinawumuntu, said.

 

The academy combines football and education; the young talents are given the right platform to become big stars in future.

 

The academy is a flagship program of the partnership between French football club, PSG, and the government of Rwanda through the latter’s Visit Rwanda brand. Visit Rwanda is the tourism-focused arm of the Rwanda Development Board, a government body responsible for fast-tracking Rwanda’s economic development by enabling private sector growth. Visit Rwanda aims at giving football hopefuls the opportunity to fulfil their potential in top-class sporting facilities with coaches specially trained by the club.

 

It opened its doors in Huye district  southern Rwanda, in 2020, offering 100 per cent PSG training sessions to more than 100 children, some of them beneficiaries of the club’s Foundation. It now has up to 200 kids.

 

Rwanda and the French football club signed a three-year long partnership in December 2019, but it was extended in May 2023, to 2025 following its success.

 

The agreement aims at showcasing Rwanda as a top tourism and investment destination in Africa, developing cultural, creative synergies, and promoting Rwandan coffee and tea.

 

Related: PSG deal a big win for Rwanda

 

The partnership with PSG followed another with English Premier League club, Arsenal FC, signed in 2018.

 

Since the beginning of the partnerships, the big ‘Visit Rwanda’ logo is hard to miss at the Parc des Princes and Emirates stadiums on match days. It also appears on men’s teams’ training and warm-up kits. Additionally, fans in Europe are enjoying Rwandan tea and coffee, served exclusively at the stadiums.

 

Coaches from Arsenal are working with Rwandan coaches to support development of the country’s football program. Recently, a five-day ‘coach-the-coaches’ football clinic was led by Arsenal coaches including Simon McManus and Kerry Green. During the clinic, 50 coaches from Rwanda were trained.

 

“No longer just consumers of sports, Rwandans are engaging with the business of sport with the ‘Visit Rwanda’ brand. The partnership with Arsenal FC and Paris Saint-Germain allows us, each week, to promote Rwanda and particularly our tourism industry to billions of fans. Visit Rwanda’s partnership with the NBA Africa brought us the first edition of the Basketball Africa League, a success despite taking place in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic,” Clare Akamanzi, CEO of Rwanda Development Board, wrote in March.

 

The partnerships generated over $160 million 2022 in media value. This helped in generating $445 million in tourism revenues.

 

The revenue represented 90 per cent recovery to pre-pandemic levels, as compared to a global average of 65 per cent recovery, according to the World Tourism Organization.

 

Verdict? There is light at the end of the tunnel.