AS Kigali, once an emerging third force in Rwandan football after APR and Rayon Sports, is now in tatters.
The City of Kigali-sponsored club may be going through the worst-ever start in their history. After 10 games, they are languishing in the relegation zone; 15th on the 16-team table with 9 points and a minus of four goals.
For a club that has won the Rwandan Cup thrice (2013, 2019, and 2022) as well as the Super Cup twice (2013 and 2022) it is hard to see things falling apart.
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They have not finished beyond the fourth position at least in the past three seasons and have produced a host of quality players including the likes of Shabani Hussein, Haruna Niyonzima, Fiacre Ntwari, and others who made a name with the side.
The once glamorous AS Kigali is now going through a tough time. Ever since Fabrice Shema resigned as president of the club in June things have not gone well.
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Most of their key players including Ntwari, Hussein, Lawrence Djuma, Olivier Niyonzima, Djibrine Aboubakar Akuki, and others left the club and they are yet to find replacements.
Yes! Players such as Blaise Nishimwe were brought in but these have been inactive for a very long time. Nishimwe was not playing at Rayon Sports and he will need ample time to get to his best again.
AS Kigali&039;s problems cut across as it is a mixture of administrative problems, coaching and the lack of quality materials on the field.
Administrative problems
As at now, AS Kigali are still yet to have an "official" club president after Shema resigned on June 6, citing personal reasons.
Shema was determined to make the club not only a force to reckon with in Rwanda but in Africa as a whole. He did his best but the club could not win the Primus National League or at least get to the money zone of the 2022/23 CAF Confederation Cup. Huge sums of money were used in recruiting players who failed to deliver and this might have culminated in his exit.
Now, there is no direction for the club, no laid down principles or schemes to follow. The club needs to get someone very vibrant to step in the shoes of Shema to bring the glory days back.
Andre Casa Mbungo living in past glories
Coach Andre Casa Mbungo should sit up and face reality, he is gradually losing it and it is time he goes for a refresher course or sits up and get his acts together.
Before joining AS Kigali, he was dismissed by Kenyan outfit Bandari FC over poor results. The Casa Mbungo of the past is not the same now. His tactics and everything is getting outmoded. He has been outplayed in his last four games in the Primus National League and has picked just a single point out of 12.
Players quality
With the exception of skipper Latif Bishira and a couple of excellent players, the majority of the current players in the AS Kigali team are very average.
At least we saw Haruna Niyonzima, Ntwari, Hussein and others playing for AS Kigali. These are great players by the standard of the league but this crop of new guys is not up to that level.
If AS Kigali wants to be very competitive, the January transfer window is around the corner.
They should look through the league and get at least four or five good players to augment their squad. Otherwise, they will continue to sink if they continue like this.
Is there hope for the future?
Skipper Latif Bishira has spent almost a decade at AS Kigali. He admits that they are in a difficult situation but hopes they will bounce back.
"We are not getting the needed results but the fans should keep supporting us. I am very optimistic things will change soon and we will be back to winning ways again," Bishira told Times Sports.
Only time will tell if AS Kigali can get their act together and bounce back to the top ranks.