Amavubi captain at the ongoing 4th Orange CAF African Nations Championships Jacques Tuyisenge is a man with a lot of interest from Rwanda an outside Rwanda. He is a jovial and humble man with a lot of physique.

He has the passion and feeling that Amavubi will ease past the Democratic Republic of Congo today and that today’s much is just like a final match to him. He hopes to guide his country to the trophy.

Soka25east writer Austin Oduor who is in Rwanda covering the tournament managed to catch up with the student of Kigali Independent University and the captain of the national team at their residential hotel camp in Nyamatara in Eastern Province approximately 30 kilometres by road from the capital Kigali. The magnificent Hotel Golden Tulips also called le Pallise Kigali has been the home for the Amavubi.

It was not easy meeting the captain and I had to wait for more than 1 hour patiently at the Hotel’s reception as the head coach John Mckinsty had instructed all players to avoid the press at this time. I was so lucky to bump onto him as he was moving to his room and he accepted a short interview of not more than 20 minutes.

I was very precise and to the point and indeed my interview with the Gor Mahia bound striker took 2o minutes.

The calm guy from Gisenyi greeted me in the Swahili language which he preferred most to English after I had introduced myself .He offered me a seat and our interview began.

Even before the interview I asked him why he preferred Kiswahili to French and he told me he comes from Gisenyi near the Congo border and he learnt a lot of Swahili.

It is important to note however that the 25 year old player has signed with Kenyan Premier League Champions Gor Mahia where he is expected to link with the team after the CHAN tournament.

Soka25east.com-I know you are tired and exhausted and you need a rest, I will be very first. Are you ok with that?

Tuyisenge-Yes, it is true I am tired ,was at training and went to Amahoro for the press conference and I haven’t had any rest.20 minutes am ok with.

Soka25east.com-Briefly tell me who you are?

Tuyisenge-I am Jacques Tuyisenge, 25 year old born in Rubavu in Gisenyi near the Congo border and a team captain for both Amavubi and Police.

Soka25east.com-Well, tell me more about your education.

Tuyisenge-My education has been fantastic so far as I have been combining it well with my soccer. I began my primary education back home in Gisenyi at little known Gacuwa II primary school where I sat for my final exams. I proceeded to APEFE MWEYA Secondary School also in Gisenyi for my O levels that is S1-S2 before I transferred to College Inyiemeramihigo also in Gisenyi where I did my S3.

From there I was snapped by ESTG because of my potential in football and joined S4.At ESTG I had started playing in the top league with entecilles also from Gisenyi. I played for Entecilles while at school in ESTG for 2 years before I went to Solidarity Academy in Kigali and completed by S6 exams there in 2010.Solidarity were interested too in my football exploits.
From Senior 6 I joined Kigali Independent University (ULK) for my University Education where I am still student upto now.

Soka25east.com-When did you start your playing career?

Tuyisenge- As I had said I started playing football in my primary level upto the time I joined secondary school where I enhanced my love for the game, by the time I was at ESTG secondary school I was already playing in the top flight league with Gisenyi based Entecilles. From there I moved to Kigali where I played for Solidarity Academy then to SC Kiyovu where I played for three years before joining Police.

Soka25east.com-How long have you been at Police?

Tuyisenge-I have played for Police FC for now three years in fact am starting my fourth year, I signed a five year contracting in 2012 with them.

Soka25east.com-Are you a police officer?

Tuyisenge-Not really, most people think that if you play for Police then you must be a police officer. I am not a police officer.

Soka25east.com-In your three year stay at Police, what have you achieved so far?

Tuyisenge-We won the Peace Cup in 2012 beating APR of Rwanda, finished third in the 2014Ceacafa Kagame Cup that was held in Rwanda.

Soka25east.com-You are the Police Captain and Amavubi CHAN captain, Do you feel this challenging?

Tuyisenge-Yes this is challenging so much but again I am upto the task to help my team win the tournament.

Soka25east.com.-Talking of the tournament, you are in the quarterfinals and tomorrow (now today) you play the DRC, what’s your take on this?

Tuyisenge-Tomorrows match is like a final match to us, we have to win to have a realistic chance of winning the tournament. I am very much optimistic of beating Congo DR but again our matches with our neighbours have been so tough. We are aware that their supporters will be so many but we will do our best.

Soka25east.com—You have signed for Gor Mahia from Police, what prompted you to join Gor?

Tuyisenge-I want to admit that my friends Abouba Sibomana and Karim Nizigiyimana are the two people who convinced me to join Gor Mahia, They told me that the club was interested in me and that is enjoyable staying at the club. They said it is a big club and with huge support base. Karim is Burundian but stays here in Kigali and we even played together before he and Sibomana joined Gor.

Soka25east.com-Do you know or ever heard of Olunga?

Tuyisenge-yes, I know the lethal strike hehehe (he smiles)

Soka25east-Most people believe you will fit in his shoes, Is this true?

Tuyisenge-First of all I want to tell Gor Mahia fans that I will do my best and that is what I like doing, to my perfection. I can’t say I will fit in Olunga’s shoes because we are different people you know, I need to fit into the team and acclimatise, know my team mates and I know I will give my 100 percent and will play to my heart. He (Olunga) has given me a lot of strength and I will start from where he left, I don’t play like him but I know I will give my best.

Soka25east.com-You already have a nickname in ‘Jausenge’ meaning a man from Usenge, what can you say about that?

Tuyisenge-I have no problem with the nickname ………..he smiles, I hope Usenge is like Gisenyi….

Soka25east.com-Because of time I will let you go and soka25east including me and Gor Mahia fans there wish you the very best as you take on Congo DR in the knockout phases.

Tuyisenge-Asante Sana Na karibu, Kwa mashabiki wa Gor Mahia asanteni Sana.

He poses a photo with me, smiles as he leaves for his room.