Has Vincent Mashami lost his midas touch?

Three games into the new season and this is Police FC's worst start in the history of the Rwandan Premier League. The security service club has yet to pick a single point from three games as they lost 1-0 to Sunrise FC, 1-0 to Rayon Sports and 2-0 to Gasogi FC. They also have an outstanding league game against APR FC. Police FC are languishing in the relegation zone of the Rwandan top flight league having conceded four goals and scored none in three games. Certainly, these are not the results that the new management under Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Yahya Mugabo Kamunuga are looking for as they made their aims and aspirations clear to Coach Vincent Mashami when he was appointed in August this year. This season, our focus is to win trophies as a competitive club, which is the first mission of the new coach, ACP Kamunuga emphasized after the appointment of Vincent Mashami. Looking at the pedigree of Mashami who has coached the national team as well as APR FC, the stakes and expectations were high but it is evident that the former Amavubi boss is failing to live up to the task. It might be early days to judge Mashami but will the Police FC management have patience for him as they already have the requisite materials and have outlined their target clearly to him. Police FC have an array of quality players from last season and they beefed up the team with some great talents which should enable them to perform. New Signings Police FC were one of the busiest teams in the last transfer window as they signed a host of seasonal players who have seen it all at the top level and also some very good talents within Rwanda. They signed experienced goalkeeper Emery Mvuyekure from Tusker FC of Kenya, Marc Nkubana from Gasogi United, Shami Carnot from second division side 'The Winner', Patrick Ruhumuriza promoted from Interforce FC, Jean Baptiste Mugiraneza Migi, Aman Hakizimana (free) and Moss Rurangwa, from AS Kigali. These are good players who have joined the likes of Antoine Dominique Ndayishimiye, Danny Usengimana and other fantastic players from last season. They should be able to compete with the best. Is Mashami up to the task? Mashami had a woeful run with the Amavubi before being relieved off his duties when his contract ended and it is clear that he is very far from his best as it has transcended to Police FC. Mashami admitted that things are in order before the season started further adding that he had the players at his disposal and support of the management to win the league trophy. But looking at his performance, that is far from reality. Success is achieved through having the same understanding, objectives, focus and purpose, Mashami stressed before the season started. Most of these players have won trophies either here in Rwanda or abroad, they are experienced, understand how winning a trophy feels like and what it requires both physically and mentally. Nothing is for free, we only need to work hard to make history as the first Police FC team to win the national league. That needs sacrifice... every player should be a captain. We have the weapons, the support of the leadership and it's now up to us as a team to have one objective towards a successful season, He added. Tactics and low confidence in the team A defeat against APR FC in the outstanding game could be very disastrous for Mashami as it might ultimately bring his tenure as head coach of Police FC to an end. Currently, the team plays with no pattern and it will be very difficult for them to win a match if Mashami does not change his approach. Former coach Frank Nuttall played a 4-2-3-1 formation and Mashami must adopt a particular system and work on it based on the materials at his disposal. Also, after three defeats, the morale in the team is down and Mashami should endeavor to psyche the players in order to lift them up. Mashami's immediate future Mashami's glory days as a coach is now gradually getting behind him and he has to sit up if he really wants to be counted among the best. Coaches are hired to be fired and Mashami could be sacked if Police FC continue to churn out poor results. Eric Nshimiyimana and Olivier Karekezi are all free and any of them could be handed the team if things don't improve.