It is close to ten years since Rwanda made a landmark appearance at the Under 17 World Cup, becoming the only country in the East African region that has ever achieved such a feat. Rwanda qualified for the competition after putting up a solid performance at the African Nations Cup U-17 tournament, finishing as runners-up. Going into the World Cup, the team was placed in a group that had England, Uruguay and Canada. Rwanda finished bottom of the group after only managing a draw in the 3 games it played. However, the nation’s participation in the tournament remains a significant highlight for the game of football in the region. In this article, Times Sport traces the players who led Rwanda to its only appearance at the U-17 World Cup which was held in Mexico in 2011. Marcel Nzarora At the time, Nzarora was playing for the FERWAFA academy. He went to the U-17 tournament as the first choice goalkeeper, preferred to the others that had traveled in the squad. After the competition was done in Mexico, he returned to Rwanda and continued his footballing journey where he featured for a number of clubs including Police FC, Isonga, Mukura, Musanze, and Rayon Sports. His most recent professional stint was at Mukura VS, a club with which he signed a 2-year deal in 2019, though he never really got to play for them, because during the same year, he traveled to Scotland from where he stayed for almost a year, and in 2020, he declared that he had retired. Michel Rusheshangoga Just like a number of other players in the squad, the right-back also hails from the Ferwafa Academy. After the U-17 tournament in Mexico, he established himself as one of the best right-backs in the country. He played for big clubs like APR, AS Kigali, and Isonga as well as Tanzania’s Singida United. He won a number of trophies locally especially with APR where he was part of the teams that won the Peace cup title and reached the final of the Cecafa Kagame Cup held in Kigali in 2014. His most recent club was AS Kigali. Last year, he shocked football fans in the country when he declared that he had quit the game at the youthful age of 27. He has since gone to the United States of America to be with his family. Celestin Ndayishimiye The diminutive left-back is also one of the youngsters that represented the country at the U-17 World Cup in Mexico. He has also had a good footballing career in Rwanda, playing for big clubs like Police FC, and Mukura VS in addition to featuring for the senior national football team Amavubi especially during the tenure of Coach Johnathan McKinstry. Today, he plays for Sunrise FC, where he is an important pillar for the team in the left-back position. Eugene Habyarimana Habyarimana went to the U-17 World Cup as an understudy for Rusheshangoga in the right-back position. As a versatile defender who can play in more than one position in the backline, after the World Cup, Habyarimana has mainly featured for Musanze FC where he has had a lengthy career, and today, he is the current captain of the club. Eric Nsabimana Nsabimana is also an alumnus of the U-17 team that represented Rwanda in the 2011 World Cup in Mexico. Since then, the defensive midfielder has been one of the gems that have highlighted local football due to the technical attributes that characterize his game. Nicknamed ‘Zidane,’ the anchorman has previously featured for APR, and now he is at AS Kigali where he is a very important player in their midfield. Although he has not had stints outside of the country, Nsabimana has had some achievements in his career, among which he played in CAF Confederations Cup with AS Kigali, and has also had a number of caps with the national team Amavubi. He has also been part of the national team that featured at the ongoing African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2020. Robert Ndatimana The stylish midfielder traveled to Mexico for the U-17 World Cup as one of the significant players for head coach Richard Tardy. After the World Cup, he featured for Rayon Sports, Police FC, and Bugesera FC. He is one of those players from whom much would have been expected due to his technical abilities, but he did not really excel. He is currently playing for Rwanda Premier League side Sunrise FC. Charles Tibingana He was one of the few players that were on the U-17 team coming from foreign-based clubs. In 2011, the young Tibingana was part of the youth structure at Proline Academy, one of the best football Academies in Uganda. After the U-17 World Cup, he played for clubs like APR and Uganda’s Victoria University FC. Times Sport understands that he is currently in Uganda but is no longer playing football. Emery Bayisenge He is one of the U-17 products that have had glowing careers. The central defender traveled to Mexico as the captain of the junior team. After the tournament, he came back home and played for Isonga FC, and later joined APR FC, before he went out of Rwanda for stints in Morocco’s Saif Sporting Club and Jeunesse Sportive d’El Massira. He has also been an important player in the senior national team, Amavubi stars, where he has played in many Afcon qualifier campaigns, and two CHAN tournaments. Today, he plies his trade with AS Kigali. Bonfils Kabanda Another midfielder in Richard Tardy’s U-17 team that went to Mexico. When the tournament ended, he played for a number of clubs mainly outside of Rwanda, for example, French Ligue 2 side AS Nancy Lorraine. He also played for Thaon – also based in France. Times Sport understands that he is living in France today but no longer plays football. Andrew Buteera The midfielder joined the U-17 team from Uganda-based Proline FC football Academy. After the World Cup, he played for Isonga FC for a short while, before joining APR FC where he is until today. Although he is very talented and technical, his career has been blighted by recurrent injuries which have limited his game time at both club level and the national team. Justin Mico After the U-17 World Cup, striker Justin Mico came back home and played for clubs including Isonga FC and AS Kigali. Today he plies his trade with Police FC. Heritier Turatsinze After Mexico, center-back Heritier Turatsinze returned to Rwanda and played for clubs like Sunrise, Police and Bugesera. He retired from the game and lives in Rubavu District, Western Province. Janvier Benedata The midfielder played for clubs like APR and Mukura after the World Cup in Mexico. Today, he plays for AS Kigali in the Rwanda Premier League. Faustin Usengimana After the 2011 U-17 World Cup, the center-back played for APR and Rayon Sports before he went for a one-season stint in Zambia where he played for Buildcon 2019. Today, he plays for Police FC. Jean-Marie Rusingizandekwe He deputized for Celestin Ndayishimye in the left-back position during the U-17 World Cup in Mexico. After the tournament, he played for Marines FC. He currently lives in Belgium. Sulaiman Kakira After the U-17 World Cup, he played for teams like APR and Kiyovu. He is now based in Dubai. Ibrahim Itangishaka Striker Itangishaka is one of the little known players that featured in the Mexico U-17 world cup. After the tournament, he played for Etincelles FC. He has since retired and lives in Rubavu district. Farouk Ruhinda The Ugandan-born forward featured for clubs like APR and Bugesera after the Mexico World Cup. He is back in Uganda and has since retired from football. Steven Ntaribi The goalkeeper traveled to Mexico as an understudy for Marcel Nzarora. After the tournament, he played for Isonga FC and local giants APR FC. Today, he features Gorilla FC, a newly promoted club to the Rwanda Premier League. Kabes Hategekimana He was the third-choice goalkeeper for the junior team in the Mexico U-17 World Cup. After the tournament, he came back and featured for clubs like AS Muhanga and Musanze FC. He is now retired and lives in Musanze District.
