Nshimiyimana appointed new Amavubi Stars coach

CHAN QualifiersJun. 21, 22, 23 Winner (Bur/Ken) vs SudanWinner (Erit/Eth) vs RwandaUganda vs TanzaniaEric Nshimiyimana and Jean Baptist Kayiranga have been appointed the new Amavubi Stars head coach and assistant respectively. Their immediate task is to lead Rwanda to next year’s African Nations Championship (CHAN) to be hosted by South Africa.The Minister of Sports and Culture Protais Mitali said in a news conference on Thursday evening that the decision to appoint both Nshimiyimana and Kayiranga was reached after a careful assessment of their past record in regard to promoting young players.“They have been appointed because of their vast knowledge on the country’s youth football programmes,” Mitali said, adding that the duo must also make sure the team qualifies for the 2014 CHAN finals in South Africa.The Minister added, “We have trust in him (Nshimiyimana) as the head coach because he has held this position before as an interim coach and posted good results and now we have given him full responsibilities to ensure that the national team performs well in upcoming matches.”PatienceNshimiyimana, the assistant coach with APR FC, has also been assisting Serbian Milutin Micho Sredojovic who was sacked this week. The 40-year-old former Rwandan international towering midfielder was part of the Amavubi team that played at the 2004 African Cup of Nations in Tunisia.“I call upon Rwandans to exercise patience as we give time for the two coaches to build a strong team for the future. We will only think about recruiting a foreign coach once the pair fails to deliver in as far as our ambitions are concerned,” added Mitali.Nshimiyimana is not new with the head coaching role. In 2009, he was appointed to coach Rwanda on an interim basis after Branko Tucak’s contract was terminated after poor showing in the 2010 World Cup/Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. He helped Amavubi reach the final of the Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup in Nairobi, Kenya. In 2011, he was again given the interim coaching role when Ghanaian Sellas Tetteh resigned after a series of disappointing results that included a humiliating 5-0 home defeat to Ivory Coast. He went on to help Rwanda snatch a 1-0 win over Benin in the last Africa Nations’ Cup qualifying match.His assistant coach Kayiranga is well vast with youth football. He has been appointed to identify potential young players who can be groomed into international footballers such that Rwanda can have a strong squad by 2016, wheb Rwanda hosts Chan.The goalkeeping coach Ibrahim Mugisha, team doctors Nuhu Assuman and Moussa Hakizimana will retain their positions on the national team.After missing out on the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, Rwanda will seek to redeem herself in this tournament reserved for players playing in local league.Amavubi Stars will start their campaign in the first round facing the winner between Eritrea and Ethiopia in June. The first Round matches are set between June 21 and 23, 2013 and the second leg two weeks later.The final tournament will feature two teams from North Zone, two from West A Zone, three from West B Zone, three from Central Zone and three from Central East and three from South Zone (including hosts South Africa).Democratic Republic of Congo won the inaugural CHAN tournament held in Cote d’ Ivoire in 2009 while Tunisia won the 2011 edition held in Sudan.