Peter Kamasa<\/b><\/p>\n
Africa-Press – Rwanda. <\/strong><\/span>Amavubi legends Olivier Karekezi and Haruna Niyonzima have described former teammate Eric \u2018Bakame\u2019 Ndayishimiye as a best goalkeeper that Rwanda has produced and a role model to the younger generation.<\/p>\n Bakame on Monday, July 17, announced his retirement from professional football aged 35, an announcement that sparked emotional tribute messages from former teammates and coaches at club and country levels.<\/p>\n The likes of Olivier Karekezi, Haruna Niyonzima, Yves Kimenyi, Eric Nshimiyimana and Emery Bayisenge are among several footballers and coaches who led tribute to the goalkeeper. They hail him as arguably one of the country\u2019s most talented goalkeepers of all time.<\/p>\n \u201cWe thank him for his great contribution to the national team and his wonderful career; he was a great player for the country, he will be missed by the team,\u201d former Amavubi captain Olivier Karekezi said of Bakame in an interview with Times Sport.<\/p>\n Bakame\u2019s former teammate and brother-in-law Haruna Niyonzima said \u201cBakame is probably the best goalkeeper this country has ever produced and, if he has decided to retire while he could still carry on [playing], we must be happy for what he has achieved in football. He has made a good decision.”<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a pleasure to have played alongside him [for both country and club] at various levels. It is always everyone\u2019s wish to work with that type of player because they have a big influence on the rest of the team,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Former Amavubi U17 and U20 captain Emery Bayisenge also said, \u201cI have known him as a good man, simple in society and, yes, we will always look at him as one of the best players Rwanda has ever had. He made me work hard in training because he had some jokes which helped players to enjoy the work and he would demonstrate as a good example.\u201d<\/p>\n Stopper Bakame was among the national team squad that faced DR Congo in CHAN in Kigali n January 30, 2016<\/p>\n Bakame enjoyed a successful career between the posts during his time at defunct ATRACO, Rayon Sports, APR FC and AS Kigali among other teams.<\/p>\n It was at APR FC, AS Kigali and Bugesera FC when he played under coach Eric Nshimiyimana. As Bakame embarks on a coaching career, a reunion with Nshiyimana is on the card with the pair now set to find themselves on the same touchline at Bugesera FC.<\/p>\n Nshimiyimana described Bakame as a player who listened to advice and coach\u2019s instructions, who always wanted to learn, improve, increase and he always gave his best to the national team and clubs he played for.<\/p>\n \u201cBakame was an outstanding footballer, a role model and he always led by example. He was a good captain, responsible. He had good knowledge of the game, loved to play for the national team and always worked hard to win matches,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was a great player who had passion for football and dedicated hard work to his job,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Bakame has 57 national team caps to his name.<\/p>\n He enjoyed competition between the posts against different goalkeepers during his career spanning 19 years and Yves Kimenyi is one of them.<\/p>\n A then young Kimenyi always wanted to beat Bakame to the Number One spot between the sticks while on national team duty but he can only speak positively about the veteran who, he said, inspired him in his career.<\/p>\n “We learned a lot from him because he was one of the best goalkeepers Rwanda had ever produced. We wish him all the best for the next move,” Kimenyi said.<\/p>\n Goalkeeper in action during a derby on Jan 21, 2017, When APR FC beat Rayon 1-0 at Amahoro National Stadium.<\/p>\n Goalkeeper in action during a derby on Jan 21, 2017, When APR FC beat Rayon 1-0 at Amahoro National Stadium.<\/p>\n Bakame during a training session of the national team in 2015<\/p>\n Goalkeeper Jean Luc Ndayishimiye with his teammates at the game against AS Kigali on April 20, 2014<\/p>\n\r\n