Mukura’s Niyonzima goes AWOL

MUKURA VICTORY SPORTS midfielder Ally Niyonzima has gone missing from the team camp. Mukura head coach Godefroid Okoko said the player has not been seen since last month and the team does not have any clue about his whereabouts. Niyonzima disappeared in November after Mukura’s 2-1 win against SC Kiyovu. “There are speculations about his whereabouts but what I know is that he is away without permission; we have asked him to come back but he hasn’t,” the former Burundian international told this paper on Sunday. The 24-year-old joined the Huye-based side last season where he has been a key figure and helped the team to finish in third place behind APR and Rayon Sports. However, one of his teammates, who didn’t want to be named, said that the player wants to join APR or Rayon Sports in January and knows that continuing to play for Mukura would reduce his chances of achieving his target. “I know he wants to play for APR or another top team like Rayon Sports and I think he ran away because of that,” the player told Times Sport. Efforts by this paper to talk to Niyonzima proved futile as his known mobile phone number couldn’t go through. The defensive midfielder had an impressive showing last season with Mukura. He was also instrumental in Amavubi’s 2016 CHAN campaign. editorial@newtimes.co.rw