Shungu resigns from coaching role

Breaking news: Amavubi Stars assistant coach Raoul Shungu has resigned his post, Times Sport can exclusively reveal.

With less than three weeks before Rwanda host Algeria in the opening fixture of the third and final round of the 2010 World/Africa Cup qualifier on March 28, Shungu’s resignation is a major setback to the Amavubi camp.

In an exclusive interview with Times Sport yesterday, Shungu cited personal reason for his resignation but he was not willing to the details before the (resignation) has been accepted or denied.

"There are reasons that have led to my resignation and that’s why I call them personal up to this time but I will make them public after Ferwafa reacts to my resignation letter,” Shungu candidly revealed.

However, this paper has reliably learnt from internal sources within the Amavubi camp at their Palisse hotel training camp that the Rayon Sport head coach had some misunderstandings with his immediate boss Branko Tucak, which led him (Shungu) to throw in the towel.

The pair has been at loggerheads even before the Amavubi Stars reached this far in their 2010 World/Africa Nations’ Cup qualifying campaign.

Efforts to get a comment from Ferwafa boss Brig. Gen. Jean Bosco Kazura were futile as he is reportedly to be out of the country while Chief Executive Officer Jules Kalisa’s phone was not accessible by press time.

Since the Congolese born Shungu was appointed as Tucak’s assistant, there have numerous unconfirmed reports of bad blood boiling between the two men; unfortunately both camps had never come out to admit the existence of animosity between them.

Meanwhile, the team has started intensive training ahead of Algeria game on March 28 in Kigali. Tucak’s team is undergoing daily double training sessions at Ferwafa artificial turf.

At the moment, the team is comprised of local players and would be joined by professional players next week according to the local football body.

The professional summoned include Saddou Boubakary (Libya), Hamad Ndikumana (AC Omonio), Said Abedi Makasi (Difaa El Jadida), Henri Munyaneza (Germinal Beerschot), Jimmy Mulisa (KSV Roeselare), Olivier Karekezi (Ham Kam), according to a statement by Ferwafa.

Rwanda is drawn alongside Algeria, Egypt and Zambia in Group C of the 2010 World Cup qualifiers.

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