Spittler wants foreign players in Rwanda Premier League reduced
Friday, August 30, 2024
National football team (Amavubi) head coach Frank Spittler Torsten gives instructions to Muhadjili Hakizimana during a training session at Kigali Pele Stadium. File

Rwanda head coach Frank Torsten Spittler is not happy with the influx of many foreign players in the domestic league.

The existing foreign players quota rule allows each of the top tier clubs to field six foreign players. But the clubs want the number increased to eight, a decision they want the Rwanda FA to approve before the current transfer window closes on August 30.

The German gaffer, however, made it clear that he is against clubs pushing for the increment of the foreign players quota as he believes it will hamper what he tends to achieve during his reign as Amavubi coach.

"I was away in Germany when I heard some club owners and administrators calling for the foreign players quota to be increased," Spittler told the press on Thursday.

"I don't think it's right; It will not enable us to raise quality talents here because Rwandan players will not get chance to play. The foreign players are bought with huge sums of money and clubs can't put them on the bench."

The experienced trainer mentioned that his major expertise is player development and , if many foreigners continue to come, it will derail his quest to groom talents for the country.

"One of the main reasons why I was brought here is to develop players. If clubs keep bringing in foreign players, then I am afraid I am at the wrong place and I may advise myself because soon there will be no talents left," Spittler said.

"Most of the foreign players that some of clubs bring are not even better than local players. If they want to bring foreign players, they should bring those the locals can learn from," he added.

Spittler is currently preparing the national team for the upcoming AFCON 2025 Qualifiers against Libya in Tripoli on September 4 and Nigeria in Kigali on Sepptember 10.