German tactician Frank Spittler is close to seeing off his current deal as Amavubi coach which expires at the end of the year. Rwanda appointed Spittler as head coach on November 1, 2023 after Carlos Alos Ferrer left the job to take up the Belarusian national team. Spittler, prior to his appointment, he had served as the technical director of Bhutanese Professional Football League Club side Paro FC. The 63-year-old trainer holds a UEFA pro license certificate and he was one of the coaches specially trained by the German Football Association for tasks abroad. Spittler is a member of a pool of coaches on the German Football Association roster who are sent to less developed countries to help develop their football based on request. This is actually why Spittler ended up in countries such as Yemen, Nepal, Myanmar, Sierra Leone, Bhutan just to mention a few. ALSO READ: AFCON 2025 Qualification: Amavubi fall short despite stunning comeback against Nigeria In fact, many people did not give him any chance to succeed based on the fact that he hasn't coached any top level club or country. His biggest jobs had been Germany U16 coach in 1998 and 1860 Munich Youth team coach from 1993-1998. ALSO READ: Spittler unsure of his future despite Amavubi success Rwanda had not won a competitive game in over two years and the general belief was that only a top class coach based on CV could turn the fortunes of the East African nation. Spittler took charge of Rwanda barely two weeks before the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and he was able to play a goalless draw with Zimbabwe before whipping giants South Africa 2-0. Since that bright start, Spittler hasn't looked back. In 14 games under the veteran, Rwanda won 6, drew 4 and lost 4. They have scored 13 goals, conceded 9 and kept 7 clean sheets. Out of the 6 wins, he beat two of Africa's biggest football nations South Africa and Nigeria. Three of his six wins were also away from home. He beat Madagascar 2-0 in Antananarivo in a friendly game, beat Lesotho 1-0 in the World Cup qualifiers and beat Nigeria 2-1 in Uyo. These results show a team which is only getting better. Again, Rwanda, for the first time in 20 years, almost landed a ticket to the AFCON only to miss out on just lower goal difference unlike previous years in which they were always rooted bottom. Spittler’s contract expires at the end of 2024 and it will only be prudent on the part of local football governing body (FERWAFA) and the Ministry of Sports to extend his contract. He has started the World Cup qualifiers so well as his side currently sit top of Group C. Amavubi are playing good football and you can see the team is performing. Again, the players have built a strong bond with Spittler and they trust him. As Omborenga Fitina stated before their 0-0 draw with Nigeria, the German “has been able to transform the team and he deserves a contract extension.” For now, any attempt to sack him will be of no basis. Amavubi are still in contention to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Sacking Spittler will bring the team down and there will be retrogression as the players could have to adapt to new tactics and there is no time left. For now, the FA has to offer him a new contract. The only problem in the team lies in scoring goals and, with three months left for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers to resume, he can discover a potent goal scorer in the topflight league or abroad to give backup to Innocent Nshuti who has been a regular starter so far this campaign. The future of Amavubi looks bright under Spittler and it is important that he gets handed a new deal for him to continue the project he has started.
