Tête-à-tête with Mvuyekure

New Police FC goalkeeper Emery Mvuyekure is surely one of the best local goalies of his generation and it’s not surprising he has shown what he is capable of doing over the last three seasons. Currently, he is the third option goal keeper for the national football team, Amavubi, after an impressive run for the last three seasons with AS Kigali. Yet he says he has a lot of work to do to reach the level of veteran custodians Jean Claude Ndoli and Jean Luc Ndayishimiye. Who is Mvuyekure? Born April 4, 1989 in Bujumbura, Burundi to Philip Mvuyekure and Adele Uwimana, Emery is the third-born in a family of five – three boys and two girls. Helen Umutesi is his girlfriend and the two have been together for one year. After grade two of primary school at EPA Nyakariga in Burundi, Mvuyekure attended Nyarugenge-based Saint Famille primary school before going to GS Indangaburezi, Ruhango District, for his senior one and two, before switching to ADB Nyarutarama in Kigali (senior three-six). In A’Level, he did electric installation, and has plans to enroll in university next year either. The 24-year old was inspired to play in goal by former APR and Amavubi goalie Aime Desire Ndizeye a.k.a Ndanda. But globally, he looks up to Real Madrid and Spain captain Iker Casilas. “He inspires me as a goalkeeper.” Early days As a child and throughout his primary school days, Mvuyekure used to play football because it was the most popular game, not because it was his choice. Little did he know that one day he would play the game as a profession, standing between the sticks. When he went to GS Indangaburezi for his secondary education, he started taking goal-woods role serious and later joined the school’s O’level team in senior two. When he moved to ADB Nyarutarama after senior two, he conquered the goalkeeping position until 2009 when he completed secondary school. Steady progress In 2004, he joined youthful team Jeunesse Sportif de Kigali and two years later he moved to former topflight league side Electrogaz FC. After Electrogaz was disbanded in 2007/2008, he was uncertain about the way forward. He had been at the club for two seasons. Luckily, former Electrogaz coach Abdul was hired by Police FC early 2009 as assistant coach and the tactician brought him at the law enforcers’ side. However, he would later be confined to the bench when Serbian Goran Kopunovic took over as head coach. After the 2009/2010 season, Mvuyekure moved to AS Kigali. After joining AS Kigali in mid-2010, Mvuyekure got all he wanted at the club, got enough time on the field of play and earned experience and confidence in goal – albeit after a difficult first season with the club. In his second season at the City of Kigali-sponsored club (2011/2012), he started featuring more and more in the first eleven. “I have not looked back since.” Mvuyekure says he enjoyed the two last seasons with AS Kigali, especially with the team winning the Peace Cup and finishing in third place in the national league in 2013. “During that period we also reached the last 16 of the African Confederations cup and were able to finish the season ahead of Police and Kiyovu, which is no mean feat,” he beams He praises his coach Cassa Mbungo for presiding over his best seasons so far, saying “he’s my mentor”. Now, both Mbugo and Mvuyekure are with Police FC, after the latter spent four years at AS Kigali. “It was always going to be easy for me to get along with my new teammates; besides I’m still with my mentor; it’s a great feeling.” Cecafa an exciting feeling The goalkeeper says he is excited to feature in his first ever Cecafa Kagame Cup club competition – the championship got underway in Kigali yesterday. Police, one of the three teams representing Rwanda in the annual competition, start their quest for glory against El Merreick of Sudan this afternoon. “I hope I have a good debut in the Cecafa championships, it has always been one of my dreams,” he simply excitedly said. National team duties Since 2008, the 24-year old has featured for national teams at different levels. Having earned his first international call-up with the U-17 team, Mvuyekure played in the U-20 national team for two years (2009 and 2010), before getting his first call-up for senior Amavubi in 2010. Today, he is the third goalkeeper of the national team, behind Jean Claude Ndoli of APR and Jean Luc Ndayishimiye of Rayon sports. Mvuyekure was an unused substitute in last week’s Rwanda victory over Congo, which saw Amavubi storm the final qualifying round of Afcon 2015.