Club coaches need more time, says AS Kigali’s Kasabongo

Over 90 percent of Primus League clubs’ head coaches are free agent with the ending season, and AS Kigali Coach André Kasabongo fears Rwanda football will collapse further if coaches are not given time to implement their “philosophy to build a team”.The 2011-2012 football seasons saw four of thirteen first division coaches fired as a consequence of bad results. At the start of the last campaign only APR FC, Police FC and Isonga FC had the managers with more than a two year contract. After the season ended with APR clinching their 7th Peace Cup, Isonga are the only club to have a coach who still contracted for at least another year. Twelve other coaches are set to be told their contract will not be renewed or to start negotiations over contract extension. In general clubs coaches have one year to prove themselves which set an alarm according to the AS Kigali coach.“To have best available players doesn’t mean to success, but to have a good team will win you trophies… to have good players doesn’t translate into having a good team and a good team is not built in one year,’’ said Kasabongo, who was voted on Wednesday best coach of this year’s MTN Peace Cup competition.“For a football team to be build and challenge for trophies, that takes more than 3 years. As long as teams change coaches year in year out, our club football won’t progress. Let’s allow to coaches time to build the team, the philosophy and have a good team”, added Kasabongo whose team was nominated best team of the MTN Peace Cup.APR and Police coaches are in the last year of their two year contract with the former set to be replaced with Adel Amrouche according to Rwanda sports press. Kiyovu and Rayon Sport are set to start searches for new managers as Baptiste Kayiranga recently declared himself a free agent with Jean Marie Ntagwabira set to leave the Blues. If Ntagwabira leaves as expected, he will be Rayon Sport’s fourth coach in three seasons. Although Ntagwabira arguably had the best 11 starting players this season, it was not enough to bring them success.Kasabongo added, “Rayon have probably the best team [in the Primus League], but to have the best players is not enough to win trophies. It needs time.’’Mukura, AS Kigali, Etincelles, Marines, La JEUNESSE, Amagaju, Nyanza and Espoir all had coaches on one year contracts last season.Twelve of 13 football club are either in searching or contract negotiations of the coach to be in charge for the next season.Emmanuel Ruremesha was sacked by La Jeunesse, Godfroid Okonkwo mutually parted company with Mukura have already four new jobs with both making straight swaps. Thierry Hitimana was replaced by Kasabongo at AS Kigali as the club fought to avoid relegation.

Sports

Club coaches need more time, says AS Kigali’s Kasabongo