We will not rush to appoint a substantive coach - Ferwafa

Rwanda Football Federation (Ferwafa) is not in a hurry to name a permanent head coach of the senior national team, Times Sport has established. The new coach, when finally announced, will also be in charge of the U-23 side to compete in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games qualifiers. Former coach, Stephen Constantine resigned last Thursday following a better offer from the All India Football Federation. According to the Ferwafa secretary general Olivier Mulindahabi, the Amavubi head coach will be named by the end of February in order to commence preparations for the African Nations Championships (Chan) that will be hosted in Rwanda in January 2016. Right decision However, interim head coach Lee Johnson who is also the Ferwafa technical director revealed that, “We had a discussion on Friday. It is important that we don’t rush.” “It is a shame that we have lost the coach at this stage but it is important that we make the right decision for the team, the federation and also the nation,” Johnson explained. A communication detailing the federation’s next steps in search of the right candidate will be announced this week as well as the right approach. Johnson said, “For us, it is very important that the next coach has the experience but also can take on the team so that we can perform at the next level.” “Chan is a huge competition and one we would really want to do well in, so the next coach that we appoint, we really need that person to be working at a really good level, had the experience working at the international level and trying to get the best out of the players,” noted Johnson, who is also the head coach of the U-17 national team. Training starts Meanwhile, the U-23 side that will face Tanzania U-23 in a friendly match on January 22 will commence training this morning at the Amahoro stadium. Amavubi captain Haruna Niyonzima is expected to join the rest of the team in Mwanza following his club commitments over the weekend as he plays for Yanga in Tanzania. Johnson expressed joy at the 25-man provincial squad’s composition and said, “The majority of the players that are in the squad now have been together for some time. We just have to make sure that we maintain the team spirit and the comradeship that they have shown.” The U-23 side is preparing for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games qualifier against Somalia in March. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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We will not rush to appoint a substantive coach - Ferwafa