Just days after taking over as Gorilla FC head coach, Belgian Ivan Jacky Minnaert said his ambition is to build a strong team good enough to compete against Rwanda’s elite clubs as new era begins. Minnaert took over coaching role at Gorilla FC on February 19, succeeding Moussa Gatera who was fired over a string of poor results during the second round of the season. The veteran coach lost his first match during a 2-1 Peace Cup quarterfinal loss at the hands of Police FC but he is only focused on making sure that the team adapts to his style of play as he looks to build a strong side that can challenge Rwanda’s top clubs like Rayon Sports, APR, and Police among others. ALSO READ: Gorilla FC appoint Minnaert as Gatera’s successor “My objective is to produce a good, solid team that plays better football and compete with big clubs. This is a good team which has good structure so we want to build a strong foundation from these young players,” Minnaert told Times Sport. Gorilla FC sit in 14th place with 22 points after 22 league games from which they won five, drawn seven and lost 10. Tough task awaits Minnaert whose employers tasked him to rescue their team from relegation as they are now tied on points with 15th-placed Bugesera FC. To achieve this, the coach called for patience and trust the process. “I have confidence in the players as they’re improving every day. I believe they can only get better with time. “They need time and I hope the more games they play the better they will become. Now I am focusing on avoiding relegation, that is my main focus but I want to achieve it playing better football,” he said. ALSO READ: Rayon tracks Ivan Minnaert as Zelfani's replacement “I want to make the development plan of the football club, we need to build strong football, I am working on mental and technical parts so that we can change, tactically and technically, which will help us to stay in the top division, second is to build young players for the future of the club,” added the Belgian gaffer. ALSO READ: Ivan Minnaert: Rayon face rwf13m fine for former coach dismissal Minnaert, 57, is not new to Rwandan football, having previously coached Rayon Sports on two spells (2015-16 and 2018) and Mukura Victory Sports in 2017. The veteran, who has been on the African continent since 2002, has also coached foreign clubs including Black Leopards, AFC Leopards, Djoliba of Mali, and Ittihad Tripoli among others.
