FERWAFA President Reveals How Olivier Kwizera Made Amavubi Squad Despite Coach’s Initial Refusal

When the Rwandan National Football Team (Amavubi) squad was announced for the FIFA Series, goalkeeper Olivier Kwizera was conspicuously absent. The local media quickly raised an uproar, questioning why the talented shot-stopper was left out.
In response to the public outcry, the president of the Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA), Mugabo Jean Bosco (often referred to in football circles by his other names or previously associated leadership like Shema Fabrice in various contexts), reportedly advocated for Kwizera’s inclusion. However, Amavubi head coach Stephen Constantine initially stood his ground and refused.
Speaking to the Rwanda Broadcasting Agency (RBA), the FERWAFA president clarified the situation and explained how the sudden u-turn happened after the coach had openly rejected the goalkeeper.
“I do not interfere in the national team selection,” the president stated. “But one thing Constantine realized was that we had a strict FIFA deadline to enter the players into the system early. Furthermore, the coach simply did not know Kwizera well. What the coach meant at that time was that we couldn’t just add a player to the list after the official call-up had already been finalized.”
The president revealed that Coach Constantine eventually got a chance to watch Kwizera play in a local league match involving Rayon Sports. While the coach acknowledged the goalkeeper’s talent, he expressed serious concerns about his style of play.
“We had the opportunity to go and watch a Rayon Sports match. Yes, Olivier made several great saves. But when I discussed it with the coach, he told me that a national team goalkeeper needs a high level of mental maturity. He used the words: ‘He could give you a heart attack.’ He noted that Kwizera could do a hundred great things but then make one critical mistake that costs the team the match. That was his professional assessment.”
The door finally opened for Kwizera due to pure circumstance after first-choice goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari was sidelined with an injury that required surgery.
Seeing an opening, the FERWAFA president approached the coach once more with a compromise.
“Call it one man’s luck or another’s misfortune, but when we learned that Fiacre was injured and required surgery, I went back to the coach. I told him, ‘Since you haven’t made the final list yet, why don’t you take Olivier and just test him out? I’m not telling you to play him, just test him.’ He agreed, but strictly maintained that he would not play him. I told him that was perfectly fine.”
Despite the coach’s firm stance that Kwizera would only be in camp as a backup, the president admitted he was shocked to see the goalkeeper named in the starting lineup on match day.

