After a year filled with hope and excitement for Rwandan football fans, German coach Frank Spittler Torsten is no longer in charge of the national team, "Amavubi."

For nearly three months, the Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA) had been negotiating to extend his contract, which he initially signed in November 2023 for one year, ending in 2024.

His performance had been impressive compared to his predecessors since Stephen Constantine in 2015. Under his leadership, Amavubi played 14 matches, winning six, drawing four, and losing four. Rwanda was leading Group C in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and had narrowly missed qualifying for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Coaching Skills Were Not in Question

When Spittler arrived in Rwanda in November 2023, he began coaching players from the ground up, emphasizing their development. He pointed out the lack of structured training at local clubs, particularly regarding strength and conditioning.

Before coaching Rwanda, Spittler had served as a technical director in Yemen, Sierra Leone, and Mozambique. His experience helped him identify and nurture talent effectively.

He also revived team spirit and gave many Rwandan players renewed confidence. Unlike past coaches who often relied on the same pool of players ("flash disk" selection), he introduced fresh faces based on merit.

His approach yielded results, despite his pattern of struggling in the first game after players returned from their clubs. However, he would usually secure victory in the second match.

Despite his success, Spittler occasionally made controversial statements, such as reminding Rwandans that their football level was not comparable to Brazil's.

Additionally, he had conflicts with some key players, including Hakim Sahabo (who plays in Belgium), Rafael York, and Hakizimana Muhadjiri. These disputes reportedly stemmed from minor issues like answering phone calls at the dinner table or arriving late for meals.

Contract Talks That Led to His Exit

Sources revealed that during renewal discussions, Spittler demanded his salary be doubled from $12,000 to $25,000 per month.

His dissatisfaction started in December when he left Rwanda, unhappy with how FERWAFA handled his contract renewal.

In negotiations, he requested the freedom to select his assistant coaches instead of being assigned only local staff. He also wanted to return to Germany and only come back to Rwanda when the national team had a training camp.

Additionally, he asked to focus solely on the senior team, leaving the CHAN squad and U-23 team to other coaches. However, the national team head coach is traditionally responsible for all teams, starting from the U-23 level, with salaries usually capped around $10,000.

According to a source, despite already receiving benefits like a $3,000 monthly housing allowance and an official car, FERWAFA, after consulting with relevant authorities, decided to part ways with Spittler. They are now actively searching for a new coach to prepare Rwanda for crucial World Cup qualifying matches against Nigeria and Lesotho in March.