PSG legend Youri Djorkaeff discovers Rwanda, a must-visit destination in 2020

Former Paris Saint-Germain and France star Youri Djorkaeff travelled to Rwanda from 1st to 3rd March, along with a PSG TV crew, as part of the partnership signed between Paris Saint-Germain and Visit Rwanda at the end of 2019.

In what was his second trip to Rwanda, Youri Djorkaeff was able to appreciate the country’s outstanding natural resources, such as the Akagera National Park - which is home to a wide variety of wild animals, including the African savannah’s Big Five and more than 500 species of birds - plus the Volcanoes National Park and the mountain gorilla sanctuary, accompanied by famous primatologist Prosper Uwingeli, the park’s chief warden.

Youri Djorkaeff also discovered the rich taste and aroma of Rwandan coffee, which is now the official beverage served by the club in the Parc des Princes’ executive boxes. Every sip of this freshly brewed coffee, which is the country’s primary export product, takes you on a journey. At Question Coffee, Youri Djorkaeff was invited to sample around fifteen different varieties, before creating his own signature blend.

In addition to promoting the country, Paris Saint-Germain hopes to contribute to the development of football in Rwanda, namely by opening a PSG Academy in the near future. Youri Djorkaeff also visited the Amahoro National Stadium, where he was able to chat with the local U13 and U15 teams and give them some tips. He then met cyclists training at the Africa Rising Cycling Center, the headquarters of the Rwanda Cycling national team.

Youri Djorkaeff announced: “Exploring Rwanda was a fantastic experience. It is a fascinating country that has managed to learn from the past in order to become one of Africa’s most enterprising nations, blazing a trail for a number of social issues such as the role of women, banning plastic bags and even preserving biodiversity. The country boasts diverse landscapes and unique tourist activities. I would invite anyone to come and discover its attractions and to meet the Rwandan people. I would like to thank everybody I have met here for their incredible welcome, and I am delighted that Paris Saint-Germain is helping to promote this fantastic country, showing tourists and investors Rwanda’s outstanding potential.”

Clare Akamanzi, CEO of the Rwanda Development Board, added: “It was a pleasure hosting Youri in Rwanda and we are glad he experienced the best of what our country has to offer, from world-class hospitality to once in a life-time experiences such as trekking the magnificent mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park. As the 2nd fastest-growing economy in Africa since 2007, Rwanda is also a place to come and do business. It is a low risk, business-friendly and modern country beaming with energy and vibrancy that we want to share with the rest of the world. We look forward to welcoming PSG fans in France and globally to visit and explore what the country has to offer.”

Paris Saint-Germain and Rwanda have embarked on a long-term collaboration driven by the club’s media and digital muscle. Throughout the partnership, Paris Saint-Germain will promote the wonders of Rwanda to the club’s 81 million fans on social media. Paris Saint-Germain, the new generation’s favourite club, shares a number of values with Rwanda: paying special attention to the aspirations of young people, seeking excellence, and a taste for audacity and creativity.

Other initiatives - such as ground-breaking collaborations in the world of fashion, art and lifestyle, as well as the organisation of a Rwanda Week in Paris to promote all things “Made in Rwanda” - will be launched in the coming months. Prestigious, young and eco-responsible brands will join forces with Visit Rwanda and Paris Saint-Germain in innovative and dynamic three-way collaborations.