AZAM Rwanda Premier League strugglers Espoir FC declared that the sacking of head coach Jimmy Ndizeye and his assistant Francois Kalisa was in the best interest of the club.

Burundian tactician Ndizeye joined the Rusizi-based club in 2016 on a one-year contract before signing a three-year contract extension at the start of the current campaign.

The game against title hopefuls and record 16-times champions on Wednesday was his last in charge of the team that is currently in 13th place with 14 points, two above Miroplast, who occupy the last relegation spot, after 15 rounds of matches.

Gicumbi are bottom with 11 points but with a game in hand.

News of Ndizeye’s sacking was confirmed on Thursday night by Espoir FC Secretary General, Rene Fidele Rukundo.

"The decision was taken for the good of the club because we’re not performing well, after evaluation of the team’s performance in the league’s first round, the board has decided to let the coach and his assistant go,” Rukundo told Times Sport.

Regarding the next coach, Rukundo noted that, "We shall announce the next move in the coming days.”

Last year, Espoir finished in 8th place with 39 points.

Ndizeye becomes the fifth Azam Rwanda Premier League coach to lose his job this season—he follows Ali Bizimungu (Bugesera FC), Hassan Muhire (Miroplast), Sosthene Habimana (Musanze FC) and Olivier Karekezi (Rayon Sports).

APR FC’s Jimmy Mulisa was demoted to assistant coach when the club brought back 70-year old Serbian Ljubomir ‘Ljupko’ Petrovic as head coach.

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