Ngomirakiza slams his former club APR

Police FC midfielder Hegman Ngomirakiza has slammed his former club APR for what he called “suppression” of his football potential. The tough remarks follow the recalling of Ngomirakiza to join the national team for the first time since 2011. He is part of the squad preparing for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers and 2016 Africa Nations Championships (CHAN). The 24-old Rwanda international was released by APR after 10 years at the club where he started as an academy player – he is currently with last season’s Peace Cup winners Police on a-two year contract. Ngomirakiza revealed that he was shocked when he had news that he had been recalled by Amavubi head coach Johnny Mckinstry, explaining that he has always felt he still had much to offer to the national team. “This is the reason I had to leave APR because I needed to play for my country again, but they never gave me a chance to play and fight for my place, I was always on the sideline,” Ngomirakiza told Saturday Sport on Thursday, a day after McKinstry announced the 23-man squad for the upcoming 10-day training camp in Morocco. The former Rwanda U-20 international noted that despite returning to the national team fold after a long absence, his long term target is to become a regular starter for clubs and country. He added, “It’s a great honour for any player to play for their country but my target is to play every match for my club, which would help me to be a regular for Amavubi.” Since joining, Ngomirakiza has started in all the 12 games that Police FC have played including nine matches in the pre-season and three Azam Rwanda Premier League games, scoring five goals and making four assists. Ngomirakiza last featured for Amavubi in June 2011 in the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Burundi in Bujumbura. Meanwhile, Mckinstry has called-up APR striker Michele Ndahinduka to replace injured Swiss-based Quentin Rushenguziminega (Lausanne Sport) who is nursing a back injury he sustained during his Amavubi debut against Ghana last month.

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Ngomirakiza slams his former club APR