Rwandan topflight side AS Kigali are in pole position to secure the services of defender Abdul Rwatubyaye who is without a club since his contract with North Macedonian league champions FC Shkupi expired in June.

The Rwanda international has been out of action since January through a heel injury he sustained during his club’s warm up game against Sumqayit FK in Turkey.

Missing out on football action for the rest of the season prompted his club to terminate his contract in June on mutual agreement putting an end to his one-and-a-half-year stay during which he scored four goals and made three assists.

The defender has been training with AS Kigali over the past few days as he runs against the clock to return to football action soon.

"I’ve been training with the team just to help me recover from an injury that I sustained months ago as I am just focused on regaining fitness,” he said.

Rwatubyaye has been linked to a return to league champions APR FC and Kiyovu but Times Sports understands that the City of Kigali-sponsored club leads the race for his signature as a player who can help them in the club’s quest for next season’s league and CAF Confederation Cup campaigns.

The defender refused to rule out a return to the Rwanda premier league but insisted that he is only looking for a club competing in continental football competitions with AS Kigali now a possible destination.

"Concerning the talks [over playing for AS Kigali], I can’t say much about it as I am focused on being back to the football pitch, the rest will follow,” he said.

"People have linked me to a number of clubs but playing for a club participating in continental competitions is one of my goals,” he added.  

Rwatubyaye made history when he became the first Rwandan to play in the Major Soccer League (MLS), the topflight league in the USA after signing for Kansas KC from Rayon Sports.

He started his career in 2009 from the APR academy and also played for the U-17, U-20, U-23 national teams.

He was also part of the Rayon Sports side that reached the CAF Confederation Cup quarter finals in 2018.