Reigning league champions APR have appointed Jimmy Mulisa, with the former Amavubi striker penning a one-year deal, subject to extension. The deal will see him take charge of the local football giants until the end of the 2016/17 season. The former Rwanda international player will be assisted by Yves Rwasamanzi who has been serving as the interim coach since September, following the sudden sacking of veteran Gilbert ‘Yaounde’ Kanyankore just a month into the job. According to the club’s Spokesperson Clever Kazungu, Mulisa has been tasked to win the Azam League, Peace Cup and lead the club at least to the quarterfinals of the 2017 CAF Champions League. Before heading to Europe where he played for the biggest part of his professional career, Mulisa played for APR from 2002-2005, making 41 appearances and scoring 16 goals. He was a key part of the Amavubi national team that featured in the country’s first ever and only African Cup of Nations (CAN) finals in Tunisia in 2004. In 2015, the 32-year old Mulisa called time on his on-field career and immediately made his intentions known that he wanted to still be part of the game, but in a managerial role. His first coaching job last year was with the Nyagatare based side Sunrise FC. This however did not last long because he was shortly after appointed FERWAFA assistant technical director, a job he still held. In August, following the dramatic sacking of Kanyankore and Eric Nshimiyimana by FERWAFA and the sports and culture ministry as interim coaches to the national side Amavubi, Mulisa was handed the role and took charge of the team’s final group stage 2017 AfCON qualifier game against Ghana that ended 1-1 in Accra. After day six of the national football league, defending champions APR stand at number eight but with two games in hand.

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