-Some players repeatedly miss training-they go AWOL-Senior players think that they are indispensable JEAN Marie Ntagwabira’s future as Kiyovu head coach remains uncertain, Times Sport can establish. The former APR and Atraco tactician has been reluctant to tie himself to the club by signing a new contract after being frustrated by the unprofessionalism of some of his players.
-Some players repeatedly miss training
-they go AWOL
-Senior players think that they are indispensable
JEAN Marie Ntagwabira’s future as Kiyovu head coach remains uncertain, Times Sport can establish. The former APR and Atraco tactician has been reluctant to tie himself to the club by signing a new contract after being frustrated by the unprofessionalism of some of his players.
Despite going on a spending spree in the off-season, the club, which has lost its rich reputation in recent years, has lost four of its seven matches this season.
Ntagwabira, who is still rated as Rwanda’s most celebrated local coach believes that Kiyovu’s poor run is down to players’ indiscipline.
In an exclusive telephone interview with Times Sport, the 38-year-old coach poured scorn on some of his players, naming his first choice strikers-James Uwimana and Patrick Nshuti as prime culprits.
"There are eight players who have been a nuisance since I joined the club. They constantly miss training and don’t give any explanation. Some of them disappear for weeks and some senior players think that they are indispensable at the club,” he fumed.
"Time and again, I have been forced to stick to the same team because I don’t have a lot of options since some players never avail themselves for selection.”
"With this sort of chaos, it is impossible to win a trophy,” Ntagwabira said.
He has threatened to walk out on the club next season unless the mess is sorted out by the club management.
"I will see out the current season with the club because of the gentleman agreement I made with the administration, but I cannot sign a contract.
I don’t have any problems with the administration, and they are the reason I will stay with the club till the end of the season,” he noted.
Kiyovu’s latest defeat came at the hands of Electrogaz. Electrogaz came off 1-0 winners after a 72nd minute strike from Fabrice Manirambona.
Kiyovu were a force to reckon with in the 80s and early 90s. The club won three league titles (1983, 1992 and 1993). They also won two Rwanda Cup titles in 1975 and 1985.
On the continental scene, the club made three appearances in the African Cup of Champions (1984, 1993 and 1994), one appearance in the CAF Confederations Cup (2004), two appearances in the CAF Cup (1996 and 2003) and two appearances in the CAF Cup Winners’ Cup (1986 and 1997).
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