JEAN Marie Ntagwabira is the latest local coach to express his interest in coaching the senior national men’s football team popularly referred to as the Amavubi Stars.

The Rayon Sport coach, who signed a new one-year-contract at the beginning of the season, says he can handle the task on top of his club duties.

The 37 year old who recently signed a one year deal with the blues says he can manage both the national team and Rayon sport and that he has the blessing of his current employers.

"If given a chance, I want to help Rwanda qualify for the 2013 African Nations Cup as well as the 2014 FIFA World Cup,” the 37-year-old said, adding that he would also like to see Rwanda rising again on the FIFA ladder (Rwanda is currently ranked 142nd).

Asked whether he would not be breaching his contract with the blues by applying for the job, Ntagwabira affirmed that he has the blessing of his employers although Rayon’s Secretary General Olivier Gakwaya seems to disagree.

"I think he talked to other officials because personally, I did not know that he was interested in the Amavubi job,” Gakwaya said.

The Amavubi head coach position fell vacant early this month after Ghanaian Sellas Tetteh resigned due to a spate of poor results that included a 5-0 drubbing by Ivory Coast.

Ntagwabira is widely considered to be the most successful local coach after winning league titles with APR and Atraco. He was also Amavubi’s assistant coach when Rwanda qualified for their first ever Nations Cup back in 2004.

Ntagwabira becomes the second coach after APR’s Ernest Brandts to express interest in juggling the club and national team job. Amavubi’s interim coach Eric Nshimiyimana is also interested in the job.

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