Rwanda Football Federation (Ferwafa) will next week officially kick off the hunt for a new coach for Amavubi Stars following the shock resignation of Stephen Constantine on January 14.

Ferwafa secretary-general Jean Olivier Mulindahabi confirmed the development in a news conference on January 17 at the football national governing body’s headquarters.

“It’s unfortunate that Stephen had to leave at this moment when the country is busy preparing for the 2016 Africa Nations Championships,” said Mulindahabi. “However, we will ensure that our plans remain unchanged.

“We are going to put up an offer for the new coach to come on board and continue preparing the national team. We hope to have the official bid up next week so that, by end of February, the new coach should be in Rwanda preparing the national team.”

Show me the money

Former coach Constantine, who guided Rwanda from 134th on the Fifa world rankings to a historic 68th position, resigned after he was given a better offer by the All India Football Federation.

The Englishman, who was earning $11,000 per month since he took over last May, received an offer that more than doubled his salary to $25,000.

Speaking to Rwanda Today from New Delhi, Constantine said: “I was given a better offer compared to what I was getting in Rwanda.

“Besides, the conditions are better here. I am being given everything and, since I will be managing all national teams, it’s a huge experience I could not afford to throw away.
“Life is like that; you never know how tomorrow will be. But the good thing is to maintain a good relationship with your former employees, which I do for Rwanda football.”
The 52-year-old tactician shocked Libya 3-0 in his first game in charge at Amavubi, eliminating the North Africans from the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers before shocking Republic of Congo 4-3 in a penalty shootout.

Rwanda then progressed to the Afcon group stage qualifiers but was banned by Caf for fielding a dual identity player, Dady Birori aka Tady Etekiama Agiti. During Constantine’s tenure, Amavubi did not concede at home.

Constantine returns to India on a second stint in charge of the national team, having enjoyed success there from 2002-2005 as he guided the Asian country to LG Cup victory over Vietnam in his first tournament in charge.

In 2003, India won the silver at the inaugural Afro-Asia Games with wins over Rwanda and Zimbabwe in the group stages before losing 1-0 to Uzbekistan in the final.

Meanwhile, Ferwafa has appointed the national technical director at Amavubi, Lee Johnson, acting head coach as the federation hunts for Constantine’s successor.

Speaking on his new appointment, Johnson, who has also been the Under-17 coach since July last year, said: “I am happy for the new job and I hope to register more success with this promising team.”

Johnson’s first assignment was to prepare and take the national U-23 team to a Fifa friendly match against Tanzania on January 22 in Mwanza, northwestern Tanzania.

The 35-year old has spent the past six months setting up structures at the grassroot level throughout the country.

His valuable experience in coaching includes a six-year stint at English side Crystal Palace, six years at Chelsea Football Club and another five at the FA, where he was a learning tutor.

The U-23 team is being engaged in many friendlies in preparation for qualifiers for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Rwanda face Somalia in the first round of qualification in March with the winner taking on Uganda. The victor from that tie will then play against Egypt with the winner qualifying for the Caf U-23 Championship, which will be hosted in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) from December 5-19.

The top three teams from the competition will qualify for Rio.