ERIC Nshimiyimana has emerged as the overwhelming favourite to take over from Erik Paske at APR.

The former APR midfielder, who was Paske’s assistant last season, has good coaching experience after stints at AS Kigali, Rwanda’s U-17, U-20 and his current role as one of Sellas Tetteh’s assistants.

According to reports from the army side, Paske, whose contract runs out at the end of this month, is yet to return for new contract talks and with less than three weeks to the new season, club president Alex Kagame yesterday hinted that Nshimiyimana is the best possible replacement for the Dutch tactician.

"Paske’s not yet here because of some family issues but I intend to talk to him next week and find out if he will be in position to comeback. Should he decline, Nshimiyimana will be the natural replacement,” said Kagame before dismissing rumours that Paske had fallen out with APR over demand for higher wages.

"Those are baseless rumors; he signed a contract and there was no clause stipulating that there would be a salary increment. He did not even request for one,” the club official noted.

"In fact, he got very big bonuses for last season’s treble; Primus league, Cecafa Kagame Cup and MTN Peace Cup,” he added.

Paske took over from his Dutch compatriot Rene Feller two years ago. During this time, the 45-year-old guided APR to back to back league titles, the MTN Peace Cup as well as the Kagame Cecafa Cup.

Nshimiyimana, 39, who was also an integral member of the Amavubi team that qualified for the 2004 Africa Nations Cup, ended his playing career the same year and immediately assumed the assistant coaching role at APR.

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