Although APR FC won 2-1 against Vision FC, reducing the gap to just one point behind league leaders Rayon Sports, their fans were not happy. They were heard chanting for the dismissal of their coach, Darko Novic.
"Darko out, Darko Out, Darko Out!"
These were the words APR FC fans chanted when approached by Inyarwanda TV to
get their reaction to their team’s victory over Vision FC. Instead of
celebrating the win, they voiced their displeasure and called for the coach’s
dismissal, some even labeling him a Rayon fan or calling him "Papa Kevin
or [Muhire Kevein’s father]."
This is not the first time APR FC fans have
expressed dissatisfaction with Darko Novic's coaching methods. Previously, some
compared him to Erik Ten Hag when the Manchester United coach was struggling
with poor results.
After the match, when asked about the fans'
reactions, Darko Novic claimed he did not hear them chanting for his removal
while the team was playing against Vision FC on Sunday.
APR FC supporters accuse the coach of failing
to utilize the club’s expensive signings, reducing them to ineffective players
despite their proven talent in their former teams. Some players have even left
the club due to a lack of playing time, including Johnson Nwobodo Chidiebele
and Godwin Odibo.
Additionally, Darko Novic has been criticized
for mismanaging the foreign players he selected, as they are not delivering the
expected results. Among those who have disappointed fans are Mamadou Sy,
Mahamadou Lamine Bah, and Alioune Souane. Ghanaian midfielder Richmond Lamptey
barely gets any playing time and is reportedly not on good terms with the
coach.
Regarding competitions under his management,
apart from winning the Heroes Cup by defeating Police FC in the final, Darko
Novic has failed in all other major tournaments, including the CAF Champions
League, CECAFA Kagame Cup, and the Rwanda Super Cup.
Reliable sources from Inyarwanda indicate
that even APR FC’s management is not fully convinced by Darko Novic. However,
his contract terms present a challenge to his dismissal. For the coach to be
sacked, he must fail to win at least one of the two major domestic trophies—the
league title or the Peace Cup.
If Darko Novic wins both trophies, APR FC
will have no solid ground to terminate his contract.
On Friday, February 7, 2025, during a press
conference, Brig. Gen. Deo Rusanganwa was asked about the possibility of
dismissing APR FC's head coach, Darko Novic. He stated that although many fans
are calling for his removal, his current performance does not warrant
dismissal.
Brig. Gen. Deo Rusanganwa said: "We must
respect the contract the coach has with the team. I often hear you discussing
the contract, and you seem to understand its terms. You might question why he
was given such a contract, but ask yourself, how many games has he lost?"
"The coach is being evaluated based on
his points. Recently, he won the Heroes Cup. The only tournaments he has lost
are the CAF Champions League and the Rwanda Super Cup. So, in terms of points,
he has not lost much. He has not yet lost 50% of the matches to warrant
dismissal."
Brig. Gen. Deo Rusanganwa also acknowledged
that APR FC fans have lost confidence in their coach but emphasized the
importance of respecting his contract. "You say there is no confidence in
him? Maybe not, but first, let’s respect his contract."
Kin
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