Khanfir flies back home amid contract uncertainty

APR FC head coach Nizar Khanfir on Monday left the country for Tunisia just a day after guiding his club to a record-extending 16th league title. Khanfir’s timing to leave for his native country amidst uncertainties surrounding his future with the military side with his contract running out on August 31 will only feed into speculation that he’s unlikely to return to APR. Officially, both Khanfir and APR hierarchy maintain that the two parties are still open to talks regarding the future but sources say both parties were privately certain their relationship was coming to an end. Khanfir replaced Emmanuel Rubona in March this year which saw the latter, initially in charge of the APR academy before replacing Dusan Suljagic last September, given the assistant coach role. Khanfir also leaves the country at a time APR are expected to start preparations for the upcoming regional CECAFA Kagame Club championships, whose dates however are yet to be communicated. “I signed a contract of six months with APR which is still running but I will return home to attend to family matters, besides social and professional reasons,” he said after Sunday’s match against AS Kigali, which APR lost 2-1. He added: “I signed a six months contract with the club and will continue to discuss with the club to see if I can stay on beyond August 31”. “APR are always champions, I am happy with my players, administration and everyone else connected to the team. Everyone did his best in our efforts to win the league title.” APR secretary general Adolphe ‘Camalade’ Kalisa said the club management will meet to discuss the way forward regarding Khanfir’s situation. “The head coach has been allowed to go for holidays because the season is over and we don’t know if or when CECFA will take place,” Kalisa told Times Sport. He added, “He has done a great job since coming here, but you have to understand him, we cannot stop him from leaving if that’s what he wants.” The 60-year-old has spent six month at APR, winning the league title and losing the Peace Cup final to rivals Rayon Sports. APR FC finished the 2015/16 league season with 67 points from 30 matches.Before joining APR, Khanfir was in charge of the Tunisia U-23 side (Olympic team) that competed at last year’s CAF U-23 Championship in Senegal. editorial@newtimes.co.rw