Meet Hegman Ngomirakiza: APR's longest serving outfield player

It is not very often in modern football to find a player playing for one club for over ten years, not only in the Rwanda national football league but anywhere else in the world. But Hegman Ngomirakiza has done it with APR FC and is happy to stay for as long as he’s still wanted. In today’s Saturday Sport we profile the so far one-club man, who has grown from a raw talent in APR juniors ranks into a senior club regular. Who is Ngomirakiza? Born in Kalemi, Democratic Republic of Congo (former Zaire) to Zarizo Nkundabantu (RIP) and Lessa Nyirabakunda on October 1, 1991, Ngomirakiza is the second-last born from a family of seven children—seven boys and three girls. His father passed on on May 1, 2013. The Rwanda International attended Musanze-based E.P Muhoza (from primary 1 to 3) and Nyarugenge-based GS Kabusunzu (P4 to P6) before joining Mutenderi secondary school for O’Level and senior four before moving to G.S Sainte Famille for the rest of his high school through 2010. Still single, the soft-spoken midfielder is set to continue university studies later this year at University of Kigali where he is pursuing Procurement. After completing second year in mid 2014, he suspended his studies to concentrate on playing football as well as settling personal issues but he says he is ready to go back to school. Apart from being a footballer, Ngomirakiza is also a big fan of Manchester United and Real Madrid. He grew up idolising Michael Ballack (Germany) and Juan Roman Riquelme (Argentina). Currently he looks up to Portugal international and three-time Ballon d’Or winner, Cristiano Ronaldo. Early days Since childhood, the light-skinned Ngomirakiza never ventured into any other sport other than football and admits if it was not for his childhood passion for the beautiful game, he could probably never have made it this far. “At some point I felt like I should give up but I kept going even at the expense of my studies. Football has always been into me and I could not imagine life without it,” he said in an interview with Saturday Sport. He says he started playing football at an early age in a neighborhood street with age-mates and at some point his parents were concerned but he insisted he could simultaneously do well at school and play football. Luckily, his family understood. By the time he turned 11, he was a member of Kimisagara-based Esperance FC youth team along with his childhood friend and current teammate, Jean Claude Iranzi. A year later, he joined Mutenderi SS, a boarding school in Eastern Province and parted ways with the team but kept playing for his school team in various competitions. In late 2004, Ngomirakiza was scouted by APR football academy and ditched Mutenderi to forge a football career with the military side as well as continue his secondary school studies in Kigali. He was named captain of the academy’s first promotion. He captained the academy team for nearly two years (2004-2006) before switching to the then newly formed AS Kigali in September 2006 on a season-long loan. Topflight league career One month to his 16th birthday, Ngomirakiza made his debut in the topflight league featuring for AS Kigali under coach Jean Baptiste Kayiranga. He featured for the City of Kigali-sponsored side for one season before returning to his parent club (APR) in 2007. Ever since rejoining APR, he has lived to see glory days, win titles, making new friends as well as attaining a lot of achievements in private life. “APR is my home and family, it’s where I belong and I have lived for many years. I have won medals and titles, I was also able to make good progress in my private life and I owe this to football and APR FC,” Ngomirakiza told this paper. The 24-year old has helped the military side win five league and five Peace Cup titles (2008, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014) and two Cecafa Kagame Cup crowns in 2007 and 2010. Currently, Ngomirakiza is the second longest player at APR after goalie Jean Claude Ndoli. His contract with the reigning champions ends at the end of the current season, but he is prepared to sit down for talks for a possible extension. National teams Ngomirakiza started serving national football teams since he was 15 years old; he captained the national U-17 side for two years (2006-2007) including at the 2007 U-17 Cecafa Cup in Bujumbura where Rwanda finished third behind champions Uganda and hosts Burundi. He also played for the national U-20 team for four years (2007-2010) including in the 2009 CAF U-20 AFCON in Rwanda from which the Junior Wasps were eliminated in the group stages. He is probably the youngest player to have featured for the senior football team (Amavubi Stars) after receiving his maiden cap a few months before turning 17. In the last three years, Ngomirakiza has not been a regular at APR due to injuries and lack of form. His last cap in the national team was in 2013 under Sredojovic Micho. Ambitions and future plans However, Ngomirakiza is keenly aware he has not been doing well in recent years. But he is hungry for regular football. He revealed that he might move to a different side next season if it is what it takes for him to get more playing time as he continues to an unused substitute most of the time at APR. “I have not been doing well recently, I have been on APR’s bench for the last three seasons and I’m working as much as possible to earn permanent place in the starting lineup but if it doesn’t work out, I will be left with no choice but to leave the club,” he admitted. Ngomirakiza can play as a midfielder or striker. The APR academy graduate also noted that he is optimistic on making the final Amavubi squad for CHAN 2016 which will be staged in Rwanda, but that is only possible if he is playing regularly at club level. Something he has not been able to do since early 2013. He also disclosed that, “After my playing career, I plan to venture into private business, but also spare time for football especially youth football, because football is my choice and I will never quit it for good.” How do teammates describe him? Jean Baptiste Migiraneza, his teammate in national team and APR since 2007, says, “Ngomirakiza is a self-motivated player, he can score against anyone, anytime. He is also very disciplined.” Meanwhile, left-winger Iranzi, his childhood friend and teammate since his youth level football at Esperance FC back in early 2000s said.” Everyone at the club likes him, teammates and coaching staff as well as the bosses. He is social, funny, kind and passionate.” Appreciation The former national U-17 team captain singles out his former coaches namely; Yves Rwasamanzi, Antoine Rutsindura and, most notable, the late Captain Jean Marie Ntagwabira, as the people who made him the player he’s today.

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Meet Hegman Ngomirakiza: APR's longest serving outfield player