And the next Amavubi coach is…

Forget Ratomir, Micho, Ntagwabira, Rutsindura, Keshi or even Sir Alex Ferguson and any other name that may come along, the Amavubi Stars coaching job should be given to Tardy and Nshimiyimana, simples. Richard Tardy and Eric Nshimiyimana, with the help of Emmanuel Ruremesha could be the perfect combo to steady the sinking ship. Why do I say the trio could prove to be the perfect combination? First because, they will be quite more affordable than any of these other veteran names that are queuing up for a job that in many ways than not is fast becoming a poisoned chalice. Secondly, Tardy, Nshimiyimana and Ruremensha are more acquainted with Rwandan football than, say for instance big names like Ratomir or Stephen Keshi. Jean Marie Ntagwabira is the other one, who is quite familiar with local football, but he has his limits as far as the national team is concerned, while Antoine Rutsindura appears to be a nonstarter. Thirdly, Tardy, the only would be foreigner on the [coaching] staff, doesn’t need any introduction as he knows the insides and outsides of Rwandan football, having been in the country for over three years handling the U17 team, now the U20 side. Nshimiyimana and Ruremesha have yielded valuable experience acting as assistant coaches under various regimes since days of Michael Nees. Nshimiyimana, particularly, deserves a crack at the job after proving his worth during the times he has been in charge in an acting role. Having tried and failed or simply messed up with European coaches with very little or virtually nothing to show off for all the tax payers’ money spent on their lucrative contracts, isn’t it time to trust one of our own with the job, after all what is there to lose? Win or lose today’s last 2012 Africa Nations’ Cup qualifier in Benin, Rwanda won’t be able to add to her single appearance at the finals tournament when the next one kicks off next year in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. A good result in Benin will not change the fans’ attitude that the current team is probably the worst in a decade or so, but it could be the cherry on the top for interim coach Eric Nshimiyimana, who is among the over 20 candidates seeking to replace departed Sellas Tetteh. After years of poor planning and pedestrian management, it’s high time people at the national football federation and sports ministry put their act together, do something that for once in the last couple of years, will give the fans a thing to look forward to with genuine anticipation. And there is not better time to start planning for the future than now, especially at a time when after the conclusion of the 2012 Nations’ Cup qualifying campaign, the team has nothing significant to play for in the near future. This gives everyone concerned enough room and time to plan accordingly without a lot of pressure to achieve instant success as we have been accustomed to in the past. The next Ferwafa presidentWhoever he or she will be, the next head of the national football governing body must be ready to work and think outside his box, listen to advice, treat football as business but most importantly should avoid looking at his critics as enemies. So far four candidates, all men have expressed their intention to stand for the post, which fell vacant last month following the resignation of Brig. Gen. Jean Bosco Kazura, who still had two years remaining on his second four-year term. Emmanuel Byiringiro (Pepinere), Thoephile Ndanguza (Musanze), Alain Mukubu (Mukura) and Celestin Ntagungira alias Abega (Rayon Sports) are the men standing up to task of rebuilding Rwandan football from it’s current sorry state, and we can only wish them well. Apart from Ntagungira, the other three candidates have rarely been heard of in local football circles and it will be a real shock if one of them and not the FIFA ex-referee is elected to lead Ferwafa through the next two years before the next elections. Abega appears to be the front runner, and if he goes ahead and secures the post, questions will be asked about whether he’s the right man to lead the renaissance of Rwandan football. The nature of the next Amavubi coach will go a long to determine the proficiency of the next Ferwafa president. nku78@yahoo.com