We don’t need a foreign coach for Amavubi

Something is bizarrely wrong with the management of football in Rwanda. It seems as if – once something is tried and tested, and it fails, then it is what we shall go with. I was quite upset when I saw the list of coaches the Rwanda Football Federation ( Ferwafa) is considering for the top Amavubi job. Apart from Eric Nshimiyimana, who also has “almost no chances” according to a source of mine in Ferwafa, the other seven candidates are unfamiliar foreigners. And in a week or so, one of them is set to replace Nshimyimana as the national coach. Even though it is pretty obvious that we need to develop national football, Ferwafa is still lost in the terrible belief that only a foreign coach will bring success to the Amavubi. This is despite the evidence showing that nothing is so special with foreign coaches – well, apart from their exorbitant salaries. A few weeks ago, I got the pleasure to be in the company of a world renowned coach, Avram Grant. He is famously remembered for taking Chelsea to their first Champions League final in 2008, after having replaced Jose Mourinho. Due to his Jewish ancestry, Grant shares a lot in common with Rwanda. His father is a survivor of the Holocaust, which claimed many members of his family. Grant attended the 20th Commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, but chose to stay a little longer and learn about Rwanda’s progress While we conversed, he spoke like we had known each other for many years, yet in reality, all I saw was this legendary coach from who I wanted to extract all that knowledge he has about football. Surprisingly, he knows stuff about Rwandan football. And this is what he said. “Many countries put a lot of emphasis on developing footballers, but they ignore the aspect of developing national coaches. I will tell you the truth; without good quality coaches from home, football is stagnant.” I jokingly asked him whether he would take the Amavubi job, to which he replied that he is still enjoying his spell away from football. It’s not even two years ago since Ferwafa fired Milutin Sredojovic. Yet by appointing another foreign coach, they will be repeating the same mistake – with a different name. I am certain that Ferwafa has already made up their mind and will go on and hire a foreigner. He will come in, promise heaven on earth and probably do his little magic in a few games. If he performs well, he will be coveted by other countries and will sign with them for a better deal. If he performs poorly, he will be sacked and we shall go back to square one. Either way, Rwanda stands to lose. All in all, if this is what Ferwafa wants, why don’t they get a foreign president for the federation or hire foreign referees? Why do they assume that they can do a better job managing football matters, while they can’t offer fellow Rwandans the same chance to prove themselves as national coaches? Simply put, Mr. Grant’s view is that – it is high time Rwanda started developing its own coaches. Homegrown coaches know more about Rwanda than any foreign coach. They know the limitations and strength. If they receive the right training, they surely will drive us to the Promised Land. Hiring a Rwandan to coach Amavubi is a long-term tough decision. Hiring a foreigner is a timid short-term approach. @RushAfrican on Twitter