RWANDA’S acclaimed most successful coach Jean Marie Ntagwabira has quit coaching for the time being after guiding less fancied Atraco Fc to the league title and a place in next year’s African Champions League. In an exclusive interview with Times Sport on Monday, Ntagwabira said that he has decided to take a league from coaching on personal grounds. “I will not manage any club again because I think I have done a lot and I need some rest,” confirmed the former APR and Atraco coach. He added, “I have done a lot in my footballing career both as a player and a coach and I hope my services have helped in the development of football of my country.” When asked whether he has not received any offers to return to coach since resigning his post at Atraco, the ex-Rwandan international said, “I have turned down many offers from both within and outside Rwanda,” “I don’t regret doing so (taking a sabbatical) because it’s my personal decision and nobody can overturn my decision,” Ntagwabira said, adding that the timing and condition are right for him to return to coaching, everyone will know. Ntagwabira quit Atraco after steering them to last season’s league title, the club’s first silverware in three years since their promotion to the topflight division. The league title ensured Atraco’s participation in next year’s African Champions league with rivals APR heading for the Confederation Cup for winning the Peace cup. In 2004, Ntagwabira’s coaching tactics enabled the military side to reach the third round of the African Champions League but in 2006 APR failed to go past the first round the competition. Ntagwabira also won the 2004 Cecafa club championship with APR, the first of two the military side have won to date. On the national side, Ntagwabira is remember for being Djukovic Ratomir right-hand man during the time when Rwandan football reached it’s peak between 2002 and 2004, which resulted in the Amavubi Stars qualifying for their maiden Nations Cup in 2004 when it was staged in Tunisia. Ends
