The new Rwanda national football team head coach Antoine Hey was finally officially unveiled on Tuesday evening at Rwanda Football Federation, FERWEAFA, headquarters in Remera.

The German signed a one-year contract, taking over from Northern Irish Johnny McKinstry, who was dismissed in August 2016.

Hey was appointed Amavubi head coach on March on March 2, after beating off Raoul Savoy (Switzerland) and Rui Aguas (Portugal), who made the final three-man shortlist after a rigorous vetting process.

It is reported that Hey will receive a monthly salary of US$20,000 (about Rwf16.6m), part of which will be paid by the German Football Association (DFB).

Hey’s task is to qualify for the 2018 CHAN and 2019 AFCON finals tournaments in Kenya and Cameroon respectively.

His appointment was highly expected as the Rwandan and German federations recently signed a two-year partnership agreement, which will include, among others, training of young Rwandan players and coaches.

Hey is a former midfielder, who plied his trade as a player with Fortuna Düsseldorf, Schalke 04, Birmingham City (England) and Anorthosis Famagusta (Cyprus).

Hey’s first adventure on the continent was with Lesotho between 2004 and 2006. He later coached the Gambian team, but his stay was short-lived as he fell out with the federation over money matters.

Hey would then move north to coach Tunisian side US Monastir in 2007, before taking over as Liberia’s coach (2008-2009).

He also handled Kenya’s "Harambee Stars,” a job he held from February to November 2009 before walking out after disputes with the federation over team selection. His last job was with Sudanese giants El-Merreikh (November 2016-January 2017).

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