Returning Rwanda head coach Stephen Constantine has promised to restore a winning mentality within the national team ahead of the upcoming FIFA Series 2026 scheduled to take place in Kigali. Constantine made the remarks on Monday while announcing the squad that will begin preparations for the international tournament. “I am here to fix what has not been fixed. My mentality has always been about building a winning team, and you will see that from the first day of Amavubi’s game,” Constantine said. ALSO READ: I still have unfinished business in Rwanda— Constantine The 63-year-old coach said his philosophy is centred on building a strong team capable of playing attractive football while consistently achieving results. “I will build a strong team, and the mentality of winning is my philosophy. Our approach must be to play good football and to win games,” he added. Constantine acknowledged that the national team has faced challenges in recent years but stressed that his focus will be on building the future rather than dwelling on the past. “I am here to fix the problems that have existed for a long time. I do not want to focus on what previous coaches did, but rather on what we can build now. We must make changes and prepare the team to win matches.” Working with existing technical staff The British tactician also confirmed that he will initially work with the current technical staff before deciding whether to make adjustments. “I will work with the current technical staff, and after a few weeks I will decide whether to continue with them or bring in my own team. We also need a clear roadmap for the upcoming matches,” he said. Constantine is returning to Amavubi, 11 years since his first spell. He previously managed the national team between May 2014 and January 2015, a period during which he helped improve the country’s FIFA ranking to 64th before leaving to coach the India. While the FIFA Series in Kigali will offer Constantine his first opportunity to assess the squad and begin shaping the team’s new direction, his primary task will be to qualify Amavubi for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) which will be c-hosted in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
