Rwanda may be an average footballing country, or below average for that matter, but the country has got football stars of its own.
Looking back in fifteen years or so, a few names could pop-up such as Jimmy Gatete, late Hamad Katauti Ndikumana, and Desire Mbonabucya to mention but a few.
A decade ago, another breed of talented footballers came up, figures like; Haruna Niyonzima, Jean Baptiste Mugiraneza, Jean Claude Iranzi and Eric ‘Bakame’ Ndayishimiye provided football fanatics with a lot of memories to cherish.
Currently, there is a new generation of football stars in the making. Today, Saturday Sport profiles Rwanda international and APR goalkeeper Yves Kimenyi, one of the most celebrated and talented youngsters on domestic scene.
Who is Kimenyi?
Born on October 13, 1996 in Kicukiro District, to Dieudonne Hategekimana (RIP) and Françoise Mugirasoni, Kimenyi is the first born in a family of three; two boys and one girl.
The 22-year old derives his talent from his father Hategekimana, a former Rayon Sports player.
He attended Ecole Primaire de Kicukiro before joining King David Academy for O’Level studies and then to Kabuga High School from where he earned his certificate of secondary school completion in Computer Science.
A fan of English third tier side Sunderland AFC, Kimenyi says his football idol is Spanish international and Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea.
Early days
Football has always been his favourite sport since childhood and says he "never tried any other sport” but also admitted he never thought he would take up football as a career.
"I started having great interest in football when I was barely six-year old, which got my parents worried that I would end up failing and/or abandoning school but family and friends calmed them that I could excel both in class and football.”
Few years later, he joined Imena Academy, thanks to the academy coach Jean de Dieu Mateso who scouted him in 2012.
During his academy days, he joined as a striker but shortly after coach Mateso said he would be a better goalkeeper, especially because of his physique and quick reflexes.
The following year, Kimenyi was selected among the 25 impressive talents to join Ferwafa Football Academy, which later turned into Isonga FC.
He played his first topflight league season with the youthful side in 2013.
After the 2013/2014 season, Isonga got relegated to second division tier. He played for the club for one season before joining APR the following year.
Kimenyi at APR
When Isonga were dropped to second division league, Kimenyi was signed by APR in June 2014 but APR coach Vincent Mashami saw him unfit for a club of the APR magnitude. He was loaned out to stay at Isonga for one season. Later, he returned to APR.
"I have been an APR fan since boyhood, it was a dream come true when I joined the club. I found senior goalkeepers here; Ndoli Jean Claude and Olivier Kwizera (both goalkeepers), which motivated me to work harder and step up my game,” he said.
The former Isonga FC goalie was never a regular at APR until both Ndoli and Kwizera left the club at the end of the 2015/2016 season. He has won one league title and one Peace Cup since joining the military side three years ago.
Duties in national teams
Since 2011, Kimenyi has featured for national teams at all levels, starting from the U17, U20 and the Amavubi Stars. His maiden cap for the senior national team came in June 2016, in the qualifiers for the 2018 African Nations Championships (5th CHAN) finals.
Kimenyi was part of the Amavubi squad under German Antoine Hey that got eliminated from group stages at the CHAN finals earlier this year in Morocco.
"I aim at learning and improving every day, my target is to be a first choice goalkeeper in the national team, which I have not managed so far.”
Best and worst of his career
Sensation Kimenyi says he has had a lot of ups and downs since starting his career but singled out the 3-0 win over rivals Rayon Sports in September 2016 as his best victory while the worst came last year when Malian side Djoliba eliminated APR in the CAF Confederation Cup.
APR lost the first-leg 1-0 in Mali before winning the return-leg 2-1 in Kigali. However, the visitors progressed to playoffs round courtesy of an away goal advantage.
Note of appreciation
"Many people have supported me since taking up football as a profession, especially my family. They have a special place in my heart,” Kimenyi told Saturday Sport.
Other than family, Kimenyi says his former coaches Mashami and goalkeepers’ coach Ibrahim Mugisha as well as his current coaches Jimmy Mulisa and Ljupko Petrović, have shaped him to be the player he is today.
How he is described
Veteran Jean Claude Ndoli, a former APR shot-stopper who is and now plying his trade with SC Kiyovu, describes Kimenyi as "the most talented goalkeeper” he has ever worked with. He also underlined that he is very hardworking, disciplined and responsible.
editorial@newtimes.co.rw