The victory marks another milestone for the young institution, which has rapidly established itself as one of Rwanda's emerging centers of excellence in both education and sports.
Center For Champions TSS is a technical secondary school owned by AEE Rwanda and operated under a government partnership. Although it only began offering Technical Secondary School (TSS) education in 2018, the school has already earned an excellent reputation for academic performance.
It consistently records strong results in Rwanda National Examinations across several technical disciplines, including Construction (BDC), Electricity (ELT), Plumbing (PLT), Metal Fabrication and Welding (MAT), and Fashion Design (FAD).
Beyond academics, the school has invested heavily in sports development, particularly girls' football. Its commitment has earned it recognition as a Centre of Excellence for girls' school football in Rwanda's Eastern Province.
An unbeaten journey to the national title
Led by Headteacher Canisius Habyarimana, a passionate advocate for youth football development, Center For Champions TSS delivered an impressive performance throughout the FIFA Talent Development Scheme (TDS) U-14 Girls Competition.
The team finished top of its group during the preliminary stage before advancing to the semi-finals.
In the last four, Center For Champions TSS defeated PSG Academy Rwanda from Huye District with an emphatic 5-1 victory to book a place in the final.
The championship match was played on Saturday, 27 June 2026, at Umuganda Stadium in Rubavu District.
Center For Champions TSS completed its perfect tournament by defeating Petit Séminaire Baptiste de Huye 3-1, securing the national championship without losing a single match throughout the competition.
As national champions, the school received the prestigious trophy together with a RWF 1.5 million cash prize, and also earned the right to represent Rwanda at the 2026 African Schools Championship.
Players from Center For Champions TSS expressed gratitude to the school's leadership for creating an environment where academic excellence and sports development go hand in hand.
They said the school's support has enabled them not only to pursue quality education but also to nurture their football talents, giving them greater confidence about their future careers.
The school's coaches and management also praised AEE Rwanda for its significant contribution to children's education and talent development.
According to the school, many students come from vulnerable families that would otherwise struggle to pay school fees. Through its educational support programs, AEE Rwanda has enabled these students to continue their education while developing their sporting abilities, helping to combat school dropout and restore hope for a brighter future.
Speaking to InyaRwanda, the school's management encouraged individuals, organizations, and well-wishers to support talented children who lack access to education, emphasizing that investing in young people is an investment in Rwanda's future.
What is the FIFA Talent Development Scheme (TDS)?
The FIFA Talent Development Scheme (TDS) is a global football development initiative launched by FIFA in 2022 to help member associations identify, nurture, and develop young football talent.
Rather than being a single international tournament, the TDS provides support for national football associations to organize youth competitions, establish talent academies, improve coaching standards, and create structured pathways for promising young players.
The competitions aim to: Identify talented young footballers at an early age; Provide regular competitive opportunities for youth players; Help coaches and scouts monitor player development and Prepare future national team players across different age categories.
Depending on each country's football development structure, TDS competitions typically involve age groups such as U-11, U-13, U-15, and U-17.
FIFA believes these competitions provide talented children with opportunities to showcase their abilities before coaches and scouts, opening pathways into football academies, national youth teams, and eventually professional football.
The programme is overseen by Arsène Wenger, the former Arsenal manager, who now serves as FIFA's Chief of Global Football Development.
Wenger supervises the implementation of the Talent Development Scheme worldwide, supports the establishment of FIFA Talent Academies, and works closely with national football associations to strengthen youth football development systems across the globe.
Center For Champions TSS Crowned Rwanda's FIFA TDS U-14 Girls National Champion