Ntagwabira faces Amavubi axe

AMAVUBI Stars assistant coach Jean Marie Ntagwabira may be relieved of his duties if he is found guilty of match-fixing, according to national football association CEO Michel Gasingwa.The former Rwandan international shocked the local football fraternity last week when he confessed to bribing Rayon players during a 2009 league match with SC Kiyovu – which he coached at the time.Not a stranger to controversies, Ntagwabira, while addressing a news conference to announce his departure as Rayon Sport coach after one season, said he bribed Rayon players to throw a league match against his side. The encounter ended 3-2 in favour of Kiyovu.The Ferwafa executive committee met on Wednesday and decided to summon the former APR and Atraco coach to explain himself on the shocking news.He claims to have used a one Blues fan Issa Baritonda to bribe Rayon players ahead of their crucial tie against SC Kiyovu. Kiyovu finished fourth that season but were promoted to third following the withdrawal from the league by Atraco that had finished second and Etincelles in third.Gasingwa said, “The (Ferwafa) executive committee met and decided to summon Ntagwabira to come and explain himself on July 16. It’s only after hearing his side of the story before we take a decision.”“He may lose his position as the national team assistant coach if found guilty of match-fixing,” stated Ferwafa’s CEO, who acknowledged that Ntagwabira’s revelations, if true, portray a bad image of the country’s football.The former APR midfielder is in Dar es Salaam but when contacted on his mobile phone yesterday, he said, “I’m coming back over the weekend and I will be ready to explain myself.”“I don’t have anything to hide or worry about; because I know what I said and have no regrets. I am ready to accept any action that will be taken. If they decide to sack me, I will move on with my life elsewhere,” added Ntagwabira.Ntagwabira’s revelations have sent a shockwave across Rwanda’s football, and questions are being asked whether only one match was fixed or if he did it only during his time at Kiyovu.The 38-year old is the only coach to ever win the national football league with two different clubs APR (4) and Atraco (1), and was rated by many as the best Rwandan coach ever.He was also Dujkovic Ratomir’s assistant in 2004 when Rwanda made it’s maiden appearance at the finals tournament of the African cup of Nations held in Tunisia.

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Ntagwabira faces Amavubi axe