Muhadjiri breaks silence amid Spittler snub
Saturday, September 07, 2024
National football team (Amavubi) head coach Frank Spittler Torsten gives instructions to Muhadjili Hakizimana during a training session at Kigali Pele Stadium. File

Star midfielder Muhadjiri Hakizimana insists Frank Spittler’s decision to leave him out of Amavubi squad won’t in any way affect him.

Spittler once again snubbed Muhadjiri out of his 36-man squad for Rwanda’s two AFCON 2025 Qualifiers against Libya and Nigeria, raising concerns of the Rubavu-born’s future in the national team under the German tactician.

Muhadjiri was among the standout performers in the 2023/24 season but Spittler insists he needs to raise his level if he is to fit in his plans.

ALSO READ: 2024 WC Qualifiers: Was Spittler right to snub Muhadjiri?

He said that the he didn&039;t select Hakizimana in the national team because he is a ‘player who always plays the same things.’

"I am talking about Muhadjiri, if he is not going to raise the level, I can’t call him,” Spittler said. "But the doors are open, if you look at him, he is doing the same things he always does. I know I called him twice but I want to try other domestic players in this position," he added.

Spittler described Muhadjiri as a "special player who needs his teammates to do his work” because he is not doing 100%.

But, in the interview local media, Hakizimana said that he did not have any problem with not being called up and that it didn't matter to him because not everyone goes to the national team.

"No problem, it doesn't matter to me because, when you are in your national team, it's good, but if you are not in squad, there are others,” the Police midfielder said.

"Not all of us would play for the national team, there are others who have played for it now and don't play anymore."

Regarding the fact that the coach says that he always plays the same things, he said that the criticisms don’t mean anything to him.

ALSO READ: Hakizimana rejoins Police

"Each coach says what he wants, he sees it, but what he says doesn't mean anything to me because he has his own plans. If I don’t fit in his system, it's not necessary for me because I don't get into his stuffs, I don't know why he likes to get into it so much."

"It doesn't matter to me, I play is what he says, we are not all equal, that's why the team is 11 players, when someone doesn't do it, others help him, that's all."

ALSO READ: WC 2026 qualifiers: Five players dropped from Amavubi camp

Muhadjiri said that he personally will be there whenever the country wants him.

He currently plays for Police, previously played for SC Kiyovu, Al Kholood FC in Saudi Arabia, AS Kigali, APR, Mukura, boyhood club Etincelles.