LACK of experience to handle pressure highlights Espoir’s one win in seven rounds of the Rwanda Premier League. According to sources, the head coach of Espoir FC, Justin Bisengimana, was told by club management that he must win the next three games or be dismissed. Bisengimana said that his side failed to handle internal and external pressure in a bid to beat champions APR to boost their chances of progressing from the middle place of the table. “There was too much pressure on my players and this was all due to lack of experience. Most of the players could not handle pressure at this level and at the moment when we needed cooler heads,” he admitted. As noted, club management has asked the coach to get at least five points from the next three games if he is to save his job. Espoir FC are 14th in the league table with four points, after winning against Marines, drawing against Rutsiro and losing four. They lost four games against SC Kiyovu, Mukura, Musanze and Rayon Sports. In the next matches, Bisengimana will need to beat APR FC and Gasogi United in Rusizi before visiting Bugesera FC. Bisengimana, however, lauded his players for putting in a good fight in their last game. “We played well and my players could easily have won the past matches but that lapse in concentration at the back in the first half really cost us,” he added. He stressed that he is going to focus on winning the next matches. “It is terrible failing to win matches but we will pick ourselves up for next matches.” Bisengimana was given the unenviable task of leading the Rusizi based side to a top eight finish in the league after agreeing a two-year deal in August. Finishing in the top eight is possible. But they have to work hard and keep their feet on the ground if they are to reach their target. Last season, Espoir finished in tenth place. The club has never won the league since it was established in 1972.
