Kanyankore tips Amavubi to come good

FORMER Rwanda national team coach Gilbert Yaoundé Kanyankore has tipped the current Amavubi Stars to get better and start winning more than they lose.

Thursday, March 06, 2014
Gilbert Yaounde Kanyankore. File

FORMER Rwanda national team coach Gilbert Yaoundé Kanyankore has tipped the current Amavubi Stars to get better and start winning more than they lose.

The former Vital’O and now SC Kiyovu head coach says that the team needs time to grow, while the fans need to exercise patience because building a winning team is a gradual process.

Kanyankore 60, made the remarks ahead of Amavubi’s international match against Burundi which was played yesterday in Bujumbura.

Eric Nshimiyimana’s team is preparing for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, which start next month.

Kanyankore was in charge of Rwanda B team along with Nando Vacalero when Rwanda won the Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup in 1999 after stunning Kenya 3-1 in the final at Amahoro stadium.

"I am quite sure that the national team will get better but not in the next three or five months, it could take a year or two but it will get there,” the veteran coach said in an interview with Times Sport.

He added, "We have the core of the team with a lot of young talented players getting through, but they need time to grow together as a team. Success doesn’t come overnight, it is a process.”

The former Rayon Sports coach also criticised the culture of hiring and sacking national team coaches without giving them enough time to build the team.  

"How do you hire a coach for only one year and expect him to get everything right? Coaches are human beings and they need time to get to the strength and weakness of each one of their players,” Kanyankore said.

Kanyankore noted that the current team is good and has a bright future although it is yet to  gel and start winning more 

"The fact that we have taken the decision not to use foreigners on the national team anymore is a good step because (real) Rwandan players have the country at heart and will always give their best whenever they put on the national colours,” he explained.