APR secretary general Adophe Kalisa has described FERWAFA’s ban of the club’s two coaches as inappropriate and unprofessional. Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA) slapped a ban on APR assistant coach Vincent Mashami and goalkeeping coach Ibrahim Mugisha following the army side’s explosive reaction after a 1-0 loss to Espoir on March 18. According to reports from witnesses in Rusizi, on the fateful day, the duo confronted referee Issa Kagabo after the game, questioning some of his decisions during the game, including sending off defensive midfielder, Jean Baptiste Mugiraneza. “I completely disagree with FERWAFA’s decision to ban Vincent Mashami and Ibrahim Mugisha. They did it unprofessionally because they took the decision when both coaches were out of the country,” Kalisa said in an interview with Times Sport. According to the FERWAFA spokesman Moussa Hakizimana, the FERWAFA disciplinary committee led by Joseph Kajangwe met with Mugisha, Mashami, Kagabo, representatives of Police and witnesses on March 23 to listen to their account of what happened. At the time the coaching duo was involved with the Amavubi as the national side prepared for a friendly against Zambia on March 29. Amavubi returned to Kigali on March 31 and FERWAFA passed the verdict on April 1, banning Mugisha for eight games with a fine of Rwf100, 000 while Mashami was banned for four games and will pay a fine of Rwf50, 000. According to the FERWAFA rules and regulations, the pair had the right to appeal this decision in 48 hours. However, on April 2 the duo travelled to Cairo, Egypt for the return leg of CAF Champions League first round tie against Al Ahly and returned on April 7. In an earlier interview with the FERWAFA secretary general Olivier Mulindahabi, he confirmed that Mugisha and Mashami were free to appeal the decision even via email. However, Kalisa is unimpressed with the way the process was done and has revealed that despite an earlier decision to undertake an internal investigation, APR will not be looking into the matter at club level and insisted that, “I do not agree with FERWAFA whatsoever.” Last year on February 3, former APR coach Andreas Spier was sent to the stands by match referee Hudu Munyemana for consistently arguing with fourth official Francois Xavier Ngarambe during the goalless draw against AS Kigali in a topflight league encounter at the Kigali regional stadium. Spier, in a fit of rage removed his APR jacket and threw it on ground in full of view of the APR top brass who included APR honorary Chairman and Minister of Defence Gen. James KabarebeThe army side banned the German tactician for a month but he resigned days later. In the past, former APR assistant coach Eric Nshimiyimana and the late Jean Marie Ntagwabira were fired from the club for inappropriate behaviour. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
