Sugira set to quit AS Kigali

Amavubi star striker Ernest Sugira is poised to leave national league side AS Kigali when his contract expires at the end of the current season, the player has said.

Friday, April 01, 2016
Sugira has been linked to clubs in DR Congo, South Africa and France. (File)

Amavubi star striker Ernest Sugira is poised to leave national league side AS Kigali when his contract expires at the end of the current season, the player has said.

Speaking to Times Sport after his man of the match performance in the AFCON 5-0 win against Mauritius, Sugira, who only has three months left on his contract with AS Kigali, revealed that he is eyeing a new challenge, preferably outside Rwanda.

"I still have three months left on my contract with AS Kigali, but I don’t think I will sign a new deal, my ambition is to go out there and find a new challenge, I want to try my luck somewhere else outside Rwanda, but if things don’t work out, I will come back home,” Sugira said.

Sugira did not divulge much about his possible next destination, but after CHAN 2016, DR Congo coach Frolent Ibenge, who is also the head coach for AS Vita club, hailed Sugira’s skills, and admitted that he would love to see him at his side.

Other unconfirmed reports have linked the big forward to clubs in South Africa and France. 

The 25-year-old gained fame in the 2016 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN), staged in Rwanda from January 16 to February 7, when he led Amavubi to the quarter-finals after topping group A.

The former AS Muhanga player scored three goals of the four that Amavubi managed in four matches — and was the only Rwandan player named on the team of the tournament.

Sugira has since maintained fine form for his club, and is currently the third top scorer in the national league with six goals from 13 matches.

But it’s at the international level where he has been very phenomenal, scoring six goals in his last six appearances, including a brace in two minutes during the 5-0 win over Mauritius in AFCON 2017 qualifiers on Tuesday at Amahoro National Stadium.

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