Mungo Jitiada, a renowned veteran youth coach who unearthed and raised several top players in Rubavu District, Western Province, has died.
The 67-year-old veteran coach, commonly known as Vigoureux, died on Thursday morning, of an unspecified illness which he has been battling at Gisenyi Hospital for the past couple of weeks.
Former Amavubi striker Jacques Tuyisenge confirmed his death to Times Sport, describing the passing as a huge loss to the football fraternity in the North-western region which has been producing several players thanks to his passionate talent development initiative.
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"May he rest in peace. He lived a good life and made a huge contribution to the development of football in Rwanda and Rubavu in particular,” a grieving Tuyisenge told Times Sport.
"He had an enormous generosity of spirit and humility and he was good person and sportsman.”
Vigoureux will be remembered for his dedication in detecting and nurturing football talents in Rubavu over the past four decades – since 1982 when he retired (as a player) from Etincelles.
He was brain behind the rise to stardom of players like Emery Bayisenge, Djihad Bizimana, Haruna Niyonzima, Jacques Tuyisenge, Ismail ‘Kodo’ Nshutinamagara and Leandre Bizagwira, JMV Shyaka, James Tubane and Clement Mutunzi to mention but a few.
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"We thank him for what he has done for us and the entire football. We celebrate his life as footballers” Tuyisenge noted.
The Vigoureux's death caught the attention of Rwandan football fraternity since it was announced on Thursday morning, September 12.
Until his passing, he was hospitalized at Gisenyi Hospital with an illness which he has been battling for a long time.
In July 2023, it was reported that Mungo Jitiada was seriously ill for three months. At the time he was suffering from a progressive disease which would get his either 'paralysed' or sometimes swollen.
He played football in Etincelles FC and coached Rubavu Sports, Guépards of Rubavu before turning his focus on talent development in Rubavu town.
He is survived with four children from his late wife, who passed away in 2007.