Herve Rugwiro’s remarkable rise to the top

HERVE Rugwiro has been one of the best defenders in the country for some time now, pinning down an undisputable spot in the starting eleven at APR and a regular call-up for the national team – Amavubi. Rugwiro used to play in the APR academy, from 2011 to 2013, before he was promoted to the first team. His quick rise to the top has caught the eye of whoever takes trouble to follow local football. He has not only been one of the best defenders for club and country in the last five years, but also one of the most consistent players. The sensational centre-back started from the same APR academy generation a Rayon Sports midfielder Yannick Mukunzi, defender Abdul Rwatubyaye and forward Nova Bayama, as well as Bugesera FC striker Bernabe Mubumbyi to mention a few. Saturday Sport caught up with the 25-year old this week and he talked to us about his football and aspirations as he gears up to start his sixth season with the military side in Azam Rwanda Premier League. Early days Until 2008 when he enrolled to Huye-based Kamena Football Academy in Southern Province, for Rugwiro, football was just an avenue to pass time and meet boyhood friends. However, during his stint with the youth football side, Rugwiro’s exceptional talent and leadership ability in the academy was quickly spotted and would three years later be selected to join APR Football Academy, in 2011. It only took him two years of consistent training to be promoted to APR’s first team. Rugwiro at APR Rugwiro inked his first professional contract with APR in June 2013 and has since featured for the record 17-time Rwandan champions in various local, regional and continental competitions. His current contract with the black-and-white outfit expires with the end of the 2018-19 season. “I have been an avid APR fan since childhood, it was a dream come true when I joined the club. When I was promoted to the first team, there were a lot of senior players, which motivated me to work hard and trust in the process until I earned a starting role in the team,” he says. He further noted that the likes of Emery Bayisenge, currently in Algeria, and Rayon Sports assistant captain Rwatubyaye, challenged him the most, to step up. The trio had to compete for two starting positions in central defence. Since joining the military side, Rugwiro has helped the club to four league and two Peace Cup titles among other silverware. Duties in national teams Often described as the heart of APR’s defence, Rugwiro has featured for the national teams at different levels in the last decade, from the U17 team and U20 to U23 and the senior Amavubi team. He has represented the country in several regional and international competitions, such as Cecafa Senior Challenge, African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers and Fifa World Cup qualifiers, among others. He was part of Amavubi squads that played the 2016 and 2018 CHAN final tournaments in Rwanda and Morocco, respectively. Dream for Pro career “APR has raised and turned me into a footballer I never imagined I would be, I am happy to stay here for as long as my services are still needed. However, I am open to opportunities for professional football in Europe or other advanced leagues in Africa.” With APR releasing several players and signing replacements every other season, the towering defender is one of the few senior players in the current squad. Who is Rugwiro? Born on December 21, 1992 in Huye District, to Innocent Kabayiza (RIP) and Margot Tangishaka, Rugwiro is the second born in a family of four – one boy and three girls. He is married to Carine Mugabekazi, with whom they have one daughter – Holy Jayden Rugwiro. Rugwiro is a second year dropout from the Kigali Independent University (ULK). He was majoring in Economics and Business Studies before dropping out in 2016. “2016 was a busy year for APR and Amavubi, I was forced to drop out so I can focus on my career but I plan to go back to university in the near future,” Rugwiro explained. The defender looks up to APR and Amavubi legends; Jimmy Mulisa, Olivier Karekezi and Didier Bizimana for inspiration. On the global arena, Bayern Munich and German defender Jérôme Boateng is his idol. In the words of Mulisa, now APR assistant coach, Herve Rugwiro is a rare talent that the club will cherish to have in a long time. editorial@newtimes.co.rw