Ntagwabira under pressure

JEAN Marie Ntagwabira will take criticism of recent results on the chin after insisting that SC Kiyovu will improve as the season progresses. After just three Primus National Football League games, the former APR and Atraco coach finds himself under pressure.Just a point from a possible nine has left the team languishing down in 17th place on the table. After a shocking 0-1 defeat against AS Kigali and a disappointing 1-all draw against newly promoted La Jeunesse, Sunday’s 1-2 loss against reigning champions APR mired the club into the bottom three, their worst start since 1996 and led to speculation that Ntagwabira, who arrived at the club last season, is on the brink of losing his job. But despite finding himself under pressure, the 43-year-old remains confident of presiding over a successful season for the green baggies. “We have had a bad start but there are good signs for the future. I have a great team and what is left is finding the right blend,” he conceded. “I understand the fans’ frustration but this is a team in transition and it needs time to evolve,” he continued.Kiyovu were touted as genuine Primus National Football League title contenders after sweeping the preseason Primus Cup but league defeats against APR and far more worryingly AS Kigali, have opened up cracks in the facade. After Sunday’s defeat, some sections of the fans were heard chanting Sam Timbe’s name as the man best placed to kick-start the club’s league campaign.However, Kiyovu’s Secretary General Jean Marie Nsengiyumva has called for patience. “It is not wise to make hurried decisions. We all know how experienced Ntagwabira is, so it is only fair to give him time,” the official said. “There are a couple of new players in the team and we all know that sometimes, it takes time for them to settle in.” Ends

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Ntagwabira under pressure