Rwandan international Djihad Bizimana was once an integral part of Belgian Challenger League side KMSK Deinze. The tireless defensive midfielder enjoyed success in his first season at the club making 18 league appearances after moving from Waasland Beveren on July 1, 2021. The Rubavu-born midfielder has had a torrid time since Marc Grosjean took over as head coach of the second tier club in October 2022. Bizimana's last game for Deinze was against SK Lommel on April 16, 2022 where he featured for 58 minutes. Things went from bad to worse this season during which he has not played a single game for the club’s senior team as he has been shipped to train with their U21s team who play in the amateur division. Coach Grosjean has overlooked the former APR and Rayon Sports player and prefers using Gaetan Heindrickx and Steve De Ridder, as his two anchormen in the midfield. The case of Bizimana is very worrying as he remains a key part of the national team Amavubi. With 44 caps already under his belt, Bizimana is an integral part of the Rwandan midfield and his continued lack of playing time in Belgium concerns head coach Carlos Alos Ferrer who could consider other options in case his situation at the club worsens. Amavubi are on their quest to qualify for the 2023 AFCON in Cote D'Ivoire and Bizimana is among experienced players whom the country expects to count on to carry the team to the qualification. However, the coach could drop him if he continues to struggle for form, or else, find a new club that can guarantee him playing time. Bizimana has just five months left on his contract at Deinze and it is evident that he has to look elsewhere in June as the club looks unlikely to give him a new deal. With the likes Steve Rubanguka having good playing time at Chisinau Zimbru in Moldova, Oliver Niyonzima at AS Kigali and Bonheur Mugisha at APR, Bizimana could lose his starting berth in the Amavubi setup ahead of the AFCON qualifiers in March if his situation does not improve. There is no doubt about the quality he presents in the midfield but he has to be playing if he wants to cement a place in the Amavubi going into the qualifiers against Benin.
