Dear Mr. Rene Feller, Welcome to Rwanda, the country of a thousand hills, but in particular welcome to home of Rwandan football where, like anywhere else in the world, the one with more resources takes the day. And lucky are you that you’re taking over a club with a budget that, without exaggerating, is probably bigger than the remaining eleven clubs in the top division combined with the exception of Atraco and Rayon Sports. You’re taking over the most successful football club in the country that also has the potential to be the best in the region year in year out. But what is most intriguing about you new job is that it has the making of a club that can go places with the right tools in place—unfortunately, that’s what has been lucking in the past. Had the right tools been put in place and a bit of more money spent of quality not quantity, I guarantee you’d be taking over one of the best teams on the continent. Mr. Feller, I’m not a technician in football issues but having been around APR for all the years that I have, (with due respect to you and the club) I feel I posses some knowledge on the club, which am sure can help you in one way or another. To start with, you’re talking over a team (club) that is full of quality, at least at Rwanda’s standard but has, in the past lacked direction or someone to show them the way to the good things. But, note this carefully, the quality that I am talking about has played together for just over five months, if we also consider even the pre-season. Before this season, three-quarters of the entire APR squad were playing for different clubs, which means playing in a different environment, conditions, coach and all that stuff. As you may well know and I’m quite certain you do that a player changing a club is one thing and adapting to fit the bills is completely another issue—the compatibility of the two is never a guarantee. Having come from different clubs in the summer, one doesn’t need to be a rocket scientist to know that many players need time to adapt to the new environment and I believe the boys at APR are not different. For years, APR had been relying on veterans for all it’s successes until they changed their tradition last year and decided to go for youth, with the future very much in mind. That, to many of who had, for all the years been advocating for a change from the desire for instant success to building something that could be a lot better and more rewarding in the future, was long overdue. But like it is said, ‘better late than never’. When the APR management took the decision to release more than half the entire squad that had won an unprecedented quadruple from last season, it came as a shock to many but for the long term, it was the right decision, brave though. Eh, by the way, before I forget, you’ve taken over a club that has won nine league titles in 13 seasons, two regional club championships, a tournament sponsored by the President of the country you’ve come to work in. In addition to about five Amahoro (peace) cups or so, the club has won whatever trophy that is there to be won locally but most importantly, the club you’re taking over has played in the Africa Champions League in nine of the last 13 seasons, incredible. By bringing in young players and the majority being home grown, the club made kind of a bold statement, much or less of what Arsene Wenger has done at Arsenal in the last couple of seasons. By going that route, ideally the club must be ready to exercise something that is very uncommon in today’s game and that is patience. Arsenal have afforded Wenger that but it has come with its own side effects—the Gooners have not won the Premier league in four seasons and nothing at all in three. Such is the luxury the Frenchman, (Arsenal fans call him ‘the professor’) is enjoying but for how long it carries on, remains another issue for debate. Fast forward and back here at home. We have APR where the word patience is more like a taboo; it’s not in their vocabulary whatsoever. The reason I’ m telling you this Mr. Feller is out of my frustration. When APR decided to go for the young, untried, untested but above all, unproven home ground talents, common sense told me, they would not put them under so much pressure to win every competition right away. Alas, because the boys, who expected to learn and improve their trade gradually at a big club, were shocked to get the exact opposite, something coupled with other administrative mishaps led to the sacking of your predecessor. Last word, at 66, you’re experienced enough to realize that such a young team that has played together for as short as five months doesn’t need to work under excessive pressure if it’s going to turn into something to write home about (with pride). Wish you the best of luck and I hope that by virtue of you nationality (Dutch), you can help show the youngsters at your disposal the way to the good things—who knows we may have a few of them playing in the Dutch top division in not so distant future, I pray. Once again, welcome to the Rwandan football family. Yours truly, nku78@yahoo.com.
