By Spy Uganda
Kigali: Rwanda President Paul Kagame on Friday, October 11, warmly welcomed Arsenal Centre-back David Luiz to the country as part of a lucrative deal the country has with the London club.
Luiz jetted to Rwanda on Friday, October 11, and was hosted by the president along with his family. Days before his arrival, the former Chelsea man issued a joint statement expressing his excitement at visiting “the beautiful country”.
“I have heard wonderful things about the breath-taking beauty of Rwanda and its people, and I can’t wait to experience the country and all it has to offer.
”Football has the amazing power to bring communities together and drive social change, and the Arsenal shirt has a unique ability to reach fans all over the world,” Luiz’s statement read.
“I am very proud to represent Arsenal to help tell a global audience of Rwanda’s modernisation into a luxury tourism destination, its amazing culture and its enthusiasm for football development,” he said.
The three-year deal, which Rwanda Development Board (RDB) signed on behalf of the government, will see Rwanda promoted as the best tourism destination on the globe by the club.
Coaches from Arsenal will also conduct training within the country while players from both the women and men sides will visit Rwanda as part of the deal.
Luiz is the second football star to jet to Kigali in barely a week after the arrival of Chelsea legend Didier Drogba days earlier.
By press time, Drogba is among the key speakers at the ongoing 3rd Youth Connect Africa Summit.
The Brazilian and his family are also expected to visit the famous Kigali Genocide Memorial to pay respects to the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Luiz’s visit sums up commendable efforts from Kagame and Rwanda’s tourism sector to place their country on the world map.
