Andreas needs some lessons in discipline

When APR snatched a late 1-0 winner over SC Kiyovu on Saturday in a Primus League match at the Amahoro stadium, German-born coach Andreas Spiers initiated a disappointing and wild celebration that didn’t go well to either a section a of fans as well his fellow colleagues on the technical team. Andreas was been appointed the head coach of APR FC, taking over from Eric Nshimiyimana, who has been named assistant coach as the military side sought to turn around their season early even though they have completely lost it in as far as winning the Primus league title is concerned this season. The appointment came days after the 13-times league champions were hammered 4-0 following their preliminary round exit from the Africa Champions League by Burundian side Vital’O FC. Ever since his appointment which even came as a surprise to many, Andreas who had spent most of his time running his pub in Nyamirambo suburb started behaving weird to the extent that his assistants were sidelined in decisions related to the club’s performances. A coach who came to Rwanda in 2008 and the following year, he was managing the women national team before being appointed the head coach of APR football academy which later changed its name to Intare FC and featured in the second division league, managing a Primus league club was the highest position he ever held on Rwandan soil if not in his career. Managing a club as a coach is not a one-man’s responsibility and I think Andreas still needs technical advise from his staff. The celebrations held incited a violent behavior which didn’t go well with his staff. Someone needs to remind this German coach that either Nshimiyimana, Didier Bizimana or goal keepers coach Ibrahim Mugisha are respected coaches and even personalities in the game and there is no way, they deserve such kind of treatment in-front of football fans or even on Rwandan soil. Be Nshimiyimana or Mugisha, their CV don’t march with Andreas’s who has not even managed to record any positive achievement in his stint in the country. It is not a favour that Nshimiyimana is coaching APR, but because of the club’s poor management decisions, he should be holding the head coach role. His profile speaks a lot and there is no way he can even be made an assistant to the German. The fact that he was even appointed the Amavubi head coach speaks volumes for itself. So Andreas, whether you continue to exercise boorishness, Nshimiyimana is a high-rated and experienced coach that Rwandans believe in. A few years back, Andreas was involved in a fierce fight with AS Kigali coach Andre Casambugo who at that time was a coach with SEC academy during a second division match. The case was rested but the German has had quite some good confrontations with some other people in the football fraternity. While the government is implementing the youth football policy, discipline should be paramount too because these youngsters are not only learning football but everything positive that goes with it. If Andreas can’t respect his colleagues on the technical staff, at least self-respect should be exhibited for the good of the game. Sorry to say, the many misunderstandings that have been seen at APR’s technical bench simply illustrates a clear picture of the club’s management. Nshimiyimana’s expertise [if given chance] in blending local talent and professionals and instilling a winning mentality into his side speaks to the genius of Rwandan coaches. With the current youth policy, APR can excel with the talent assembled by the brilliance, conviction, and principles of Nshimiyimana. He deserves a big salute and Rwanda should learn to trust its own talents other-than bringing a substandard coach just because he is a white.