Zapata eyeing three Kenyan players

After joining Rwandese top tier Mukura Victory, former AFC Leopards head coach Rodolfo Zapata is itching to raid Kenyan clubs and reunite with his former players.

Zapata who has been a free agent from June 2019 arrived in Rwanda on Wednesday evening and is expected to put pen on paper on Saturday.

The Argentine says he is looking forward to signing duo of Marvin Nabwire and Jaffari Owiti from Leopards as well as Sofapaka skipper Michael Kibwage.

Zapata who has a strong bias for young players worked with the three players during his brief stay at Leopards in 2018.

The stylish tactician joined the den in April 2018 and left four months later for Botswana’s Township Rollers amid sabotage claims from the Ingwe players.

“I gave them the chance at Leopards and I hope I will bring them to Rwanda. They responded positively to my coaching and showed potential to become world class players,” he said in a telephone interview.

Zapata who won the Botswana league with Rollers in 2019 revealed that he elected to return to East Africa after the Huye based club's program and plans coincided with his philosophy.

He had a brief stint with the United States semi pro outfit Bulldogs Soccer Club few weeks after leaving Rollers and later proceeded on a lengthy sabbatical occasioned by the demise of his father.

“After I won the league with Rollers, I left for the United States but I couldn’t continue with my job after sporting activities were stopped due to the threat posed by coronavirus. Mukura contacted me and after going through their program, I was convinced that time was ripe for me to return to the touchline,” he added.