The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) has announced the cancellation of the 2024 Veteran Clubs World Championship (VCWC), which was set to take place from September 1st to 10th at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali. The decision follows the termination of RDB’s partnership with EasyGroup EXP, the event organizers, after a careful and mutual agreement.
The VCWC 2024 was expected to attract at least 150 football legends from around the globe, including renowned names like Ronaldinho Gaúcho (Brazil), George Weah (Liberia), Gaizka Mendieta (Spain), Robert Pires (France), and many others. The tournament was not just a football event; it was to be accompanied by five economic forums focusing on Peace, Education, Health, Business, and Tourism. There were also planned initiatives for Gender Equality and Green Action.
The cancellation of the tournament means that the planned economic forums and initiatives will no longer take place as part of the VCWC. These forums were intended to bring together experts and stakeholders to discuss critical global issues and explore collaborative solutions. The forums and initiatives aimed to leverage the global platform of the VCWC to promote sustainable development and social impact.
The event had also promised to broadcast at least 20 matches to a worldwide audience, offering fans a chance to see their football heroes in action once more. The cancellation will disappoint many fans who were looking forward to seeing retired stars such as Ronaldinho Gaúcho, Patrick Mboma (Cameroon), and Tsuneyasu Miyamoto (Japan) grace the field.
In addition to the main tournament, the VCWC Corporate Cup, an amateur competition for individuals under 35, was also planned. This event aimed to promote a healthy lifestyle and unity among participants from diverse backgrounds. Local teams were to pay $2500, while international teams were charged $5000, with each team having a legendary player attached. The cancellation affects these teams and participants who had anticipated the opportunity to compete and interact with football legends.
