Sports is a career that produces a number of athletes and, in some cases, their children follow their footsteps when they retire.
The likes of Patrick Kluivert, Peter Schmeichel and George Weah have seen their sons Justin Kluivert, Kasper Schmeichel and Timothy Weah emulate them in football.
And there are Rwandan athletes whose careers inspired their children to walk in their footsteps either to keep their legacy or they just ventured into the same sport because it is in their families’ DNA.
Ally Muhamed
Ally Muhammed’s performance at the just-concluded B&B International Drafting League reminded people of his father Muhamid Mosi, the former goalkeeper of APR FC and national team Amavubi.
Mossi was among key players who qualified Rwanda to the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations. He made a number of saves against the likes of Uganda and Ghana.
Jimmy Gatete may have scored winning goals against the two countries to secure the historic qualification but Mossi was always noticed with spectacular saves that denied the opponents from scoring.
And, like Mossi, his son, Ally Muhammed, has been a joy to watch during the drafting league as he looks to write his own story between the posts.
Now plying his trade at second tier side Vision FC, the 24-year-old is showing potential to hit the international stage. He has his football future in his own hands.
Arlick Ganza Tabu and Cespo Tegre Tabu
Late Rwanda international Patrick Mutesa Mafisango enjoyed a successful career with the likes of APR FC and ATRACO FC in Rwanda and Azam and Simba in Tanzania and national team Amavubi before he died in a car accident in Tanzania back in May 2012.
He was survived by two sons, Arlick Ganza Tabu and Cespo Tegre Tabu, who both want to chase their dreams in football just like their late father did.
Currently, Ganza Tabu is now looking to grow her football talent in the ranks of Paris Saint-Germain Academy Rwanda which is based in Huye.
Growing a talent in a world class football of PSG Academy caliber, the youngster has a future ahead of him, not as a midfielder like his father, but as a goalkeeper.
He was part of the Rwanda U13 team that beat Brazil in the final to win the 2023 PSG Academy World Cup held in France in June. With the current fortunes at such a tender age, the boy is just getting started.
Like Ganza, forward Crespo Tegre Tabu hasn’t looked back since he started playing football.
He is looking to emulate his father in the midfield and, at just 16, Crespo is coming of age in the colors of Kiyovu Sports.
Crespo plays as an attacking midfielder and he proved his impressive performances during the Ijabo Ryawe Youth Championships can only define what an exceptional talent he is.
Tabu captained SC Kiyovu academy during the youth championship and his performances left everyone blown away.
The duo is currently I good hands and succeeding in their football career would be the best way to keep Mafisango’s legacy alive.
Blaise Nishimwe
The 25-year-old Rayon Sports midfielder is the son of Coach Jean De Dieu Mateso who enjoyed a football career with Rayon Sports in the 1990s before he switched to coaching.
His dream is to play at the highest level that no other Rwandan footballer has ever achieved.
You would not doubt his capabilities of doing what he aspires to achieve given how fast he rose to stardom from his childhood club Marines to Rayon Sports but his recent inconsistencies show otherwise.
Nishimwe was once a starter in Carlos Ferrer’s Amavubi but his form dropped during the 2022/23 season which saw him lose a starting role at club level hence missing out on at least a national team call up ever since.
He is lucky to have his father on his side and with a CV that can inspire him. But he needs to first bounce back and rediscover his form and establish himself among players that new head coach Yemen Zelfani can rely on next season in both domestic and continental scenes.
Nishimwe is likely to move to Switzerland where he will continue his football career and playing professional football could relive his best days as a top player who can remind many of his father Mateso during his prime days at the Blues.
Noam Emeran
Emeran is making headlines across the globe thanks to his stellar performances at the ongoing preseason with English Premier League side.
The football wonder kid is a son of for former Rwanda international Fritz Emeran Nkusi who played at a good level in France and Belgium representing topflight teams such as La Louviere, Genk and Rennes among others.
Nkusi was born in Les Abymes in the French overseas colony of Guadeloupe. He was eligible to play for France but, after marrying a Rwandan wife, he gained Rwandan citizenship thanks to which he played for the country. He made six appearances in Amavubi between 2005 and 2007.
His son, Emeran, is one of the hottest hopefuls at Manchester United and, with his current form, he has proven that he is primed to achieve way beyond what his father did on the pitch.
Emeran has not played international football for any country yet and Rwanda is waiting in the wings to lure him to the national team in the near future.
Latif Bishira
Bishira, 27, is the son of late Etincelles and Amavubi Abdallah Bishirandora.
Just like his father, Bishira grew up with big ambitions to become a great footballer. He started playing football at a tender in his hometown Rubavu before he moved to Kigali where he joined SEC Academy.
He has been serving as a centre back for AS Kigali since 2014 and he has also had some call ups in the national team.
He may not have reached the peak of his career but Bishira has some six or seven more years to seal the legacy that his father may have wished to leave during his football days.
