Cassa Mbungo Andre, recently appointed as the head coach of Rwanda's Women's National Team, has responded to questions about why he accepted the role. He also shared reasons for his departure from Jamus FC in South Sudan.
Mbungo spoke about this on Wednesday, February 13, 2025, after a training
session preparing for two crucial matches against Egypt in the qualifiers for
the 2026 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations.
The coach expressed satisfaction with the players' performance but acknowledged
some challenges, particularly in terms of physical fitness.
"The training sessions are going well, and the players are in good
shape. They are disciplined and show great commitment. They are comfortable at
their camp, and everything is well organized. The coaching staff is also in
high spirits, and I am genuinely happy to be part of this team," Mbungo
stated.
However, he pointed out that the team still has a long way to go to
compete at the same level as other nations.
"The players are talented, but in terms of physical strength and
tactical awareness, they are behind. This isn't entirely their fault but rather
due to how they have been trained or prepared. With a long-term strategy, we
can achieve great things, and even in the short term, success is possible,
although it will be challenging."
Mbungo addressed questions about why he agreed to coach the Women’s
National Team, emphasizing the honor of being called to serve the nation. He
dismissed the notion that coaching requires living with the players or being of
a specific gender.
"When you are called to serve the National Team, it’s an honor
because it’s a contribution to your country. In football, you don’t need to
live with the players to coach them. It doesn’t matter whether you are a man or
a woman; what matters is what you bring to the team. What can you do to help
the players grow?"
Mbungo also explained his departure from Jamus FC in South Sudan, stating
that it was due to disagreements over contract renewal terms.
"I won three trophies with Jamus, and they are currently leading the
league. However, my contract expired, and we failed to reach an agreement on a
new one, so we decided to part ways, allowing them to look for another
coach."
The Rwanda Women's National Team
will face Egypt in two crucial matches. The first leg will take place in Kigali
on February 21, 2025, while the return leg will be played on February 25, 2025.
Kin
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