Former Rwanda international Jimmy Mulisa has been handed the role of interim Amavubi head coach, The New Times can report.

Mulisa’s appointment to the caretaker position follows a dramatic decision to fire Gilbert ‘Yaoundé’ Kanyankore as interim head coach having been appointed into the role on Friday last week.

Also relinquished of his duties this morning is Eric Nshimiyimana, who had also been handed the role of Assistant Amavubi Coach  last Friday, along with Mulisa, who was already serving in the same role under former head coach Johnny McKinstry.

"We have handed the duties of interim head coach to Jimmy as negotiations with the other two coaches (Kanyankore and Nshimiyimana) didn’t go as expected,” the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sports and Culture, Lt Col Patrice Rugambwa, told The New Times.

He said they were also on the lookout for someone else who would work alongside Mulisa on a temporary basis until substantive coaching staff have been appointed.

Earlier Tuesdays, Kanyankore, who on Monday named a 23-man squad for the September 3 African Cup of Nations qualifier against Ghana, expressed shock at the decision to terminate his services on a day he and Nshimiyimana were expected to sign contracts.

"They have told us that we are no longer Amavubi coaches and we have to respect the decision,” Kanyankore said Tuesday morning.

He added: "The PS (Rugambwa) called us and said we were no longer part of the coaching staff.”

The Amavubi head coach position fell vacant on Thursday after Irishman Johnny McKinstry, 30, was sacked after just over a year in charge – despite having extended his contract (until 2018) in May.

Shortly after McKinstry’s sacking, PS Rugambwa had told The New Times that assistant head coach and former Amavubi forward Jimmy Mulisa would take charge on an interim basis, but later officials announced APR FC head coach Kanyankore as the man to take the job on a temporary basis, with AS Kigali head coach Nshimiyimana and Mulisa deputising him.

Ibrahim Mugisha would retain the position of goalkeeping coach.

Mulisa, who also serves as the assistant technical director for the local football governing body, Ferwafa, was part of the Amavubi side that featured at the country’s first and only African Cup of Nations finals in Tunisia in 2004.

Against the Group H leaders Black Stars early next month, Rwanda has only pride to play for having squandered the opportunity to qualify for the 2017 African Cup of Nations finals in Gabon, following shock defeats to Mozambique and Mauritius.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw