Football may not be the most successful sport in Rwanda but is by far the most popular game just like it is in most parts of the world.

Saturday Sport magazine caught up with one of the local football stars who rose through the ranks to become one of the country’s best footballers. Tumaine ‘Titi’ Ntamuhanga, the APR FC midfielder is one of the best midfielders in Rwandan football.

Early days

Ntamuhanga has played football since his childhood, starting from the streets in the neighborhoods and at primary and high school until he was selected to join APR FC academy in 2005 at the age of 15.

He says, "Although I always used to play football from an early age, I never thought or believed I would turn into a footballer I’m today. I think I have become the player I am through hard work, and I am thankful to APR for having given me the opportunity to explore my talent.”

After two years in the APR academy, Ntamuhanga was loaned to Kiyovu Sports in 2008.

League career

The naturally-talented Ntamuhanga featured for Nyamirambo-based Kiyovu SC for two seasons (2008/2009 and 2009/2010) before switching to archrivals Rayon Sports in the summer of 2010.

"I had good moments at Kiyovu SC, I learnt a lot from there and I’m thankful for everything and grateful to everyone,” Ntamuhanga told Saturday Sport.

The hard-tackling midfielder spent two seasons (2010/2011 and 2011/2012) at Rayon Sports before returning to his parent club, APR FC in July 2012.

Since returning to the army side, the 24-year- old Ntamuhanga has won one league and one Peace Cup titles and he still has two years remaining on his contract.

"APR is a family, I feel at home. I’m honored to be serving a team that I used to support as a boy. Rejoining the club in 2012 was the best thing that ever happened to me. I’m willing to stay here for as many years as possible,” noted the affable Rwanda international.

He also helped the club to finish second to Rayon Sports in the league during the 2012/2013 season, the semi-finals of the Peace Cup as well as the final of the Cecafa Kagame Cup in Darfur, Sudan.

National teams

For the last seven years, Ntamuhanga has played for the national team at different levels including the U-20 (2007-2010) and senior Amavubi from 2009 to date.

His last match in the U-20 national team was the 3-0 defeat to Mali in Bangui in 2010 during the Africa U-20 Youth Championships qualifiers 2011.

He made his debut at the senior level in a 2-1 victory over Somalia in the 2009 Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup staged in Kenya while his last cap came in July 2013, in the first-leg match of Chan qualifiers against Ethiopia in Addis Ababa.

Because of back to back injuries, Ntamuhanga has not been called to the national team in the last 14 months but says he’s now fully fit to play for his club, which he hopes would ultimately result in a recall to Amavubi set up.

What do teammates say about him?

Left-winger, Jean Claude Iranzi with whom they have played together since 2008 at the U-20 level and senior level since 2009 as well as at APR, says, "Ntamuhanga is a real fighter, he always contributes to the team cause.”

Who is Ntamuhanga?

Born on July 11, 1990 in the Democratic Republic of Congo to Issacar Ntamuhanga and Francoise Buhoro, Ntamuhanga is the fourth-born child in a family of seven—five boys and two girls. Their parents live in Rubavu, Western Province.

He attended Goma-based GS Maendeleo for his primary and secondary school before enrolling for university at Independent University of Kigali (ULK) for a Bachelor’s Degree in Management; he graduated last year.

The soft spoken Ntamuhanga is a big fan of APR FC in Rwanda and English Premier League side Arsenal as well as Amavubi and Brazil at the international level.