RWANDA FOOTBALL Federation (FERWAFA) has postponed the Azam Rwanda Premier League until after the 2016 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) finals tournament set for January 16 to February 7 in Rwanda.

According to a statement from FERWAFA, the matches which were due to continue this weekend, have been cancelled to allow enough room for Amavubi to prepare.

"After meeting FERWAFA and national team coaches, we have found it suitable to postpone league games as we have to give them to prepare the team ahead of CHAN,” FERWAFA president Vincent Nzamwita said in a statement.

The Rwanda national team will undergo a 10-day non-residential training camp at FERWAFA grounds every day until December 18, when they will take a one-week Christmas break.

Coaches’ reactions

League leaders AS Kigali head coach Eric Nshimiyimana says it is not right thing for the football as it does not give the competitiveness to the players when they lay off without playing for a long time.

"If you want to have better players then let them play consistently and compete in as many competitions as possible, but if you want them to train without playing matches, you cannot win against bigger teams in regional or continental competitions,” the former Amavubi coach told Saturday Sport.

He added, "It would be better if we continue the league and here players could become more competitive and better prepared both physically as well as mentally mind ahead of the CHAN.” 

AS Kigali are fresh from winning the inaugural StarTimes-sponsored Christmas Cup last week and Nshimiyimana was hoping to take that momentum into the league.

Police FC head coach Andre Casa Mbungo said that he is not happy for the league to be called off for another two months because it will cost the clubs in terms of maintaining their rhythm as well as paying salaries to players and staff who are not playing.

"We need to have plan for league not to stop at any times. We need to focus and build a strong league which will provide better players to the national team,” noted.

AS Kigali lead the league table with 18 points same as Rayon Sports, but AS Kigali have one game in hand while the defending champions APR FC are on third position also with 18 points better have scored less goals.

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