
Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana will have a special appointment with his new national team coach at the end of the month to discuss his challenges at Kaizer Chiefs.
Burundi have appointed Etienne Ndayiragije as their new national team head coach, and he has taken keen interest in what is happening with Bimenyimana.
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Though the towering forward is Chiefs’ top scorer with seven goals he is yet to score this year in seven appearances.
"I think he is still new in the league," reasons Ndayiragije.
"We also need to understand that before he went to Chiefs, he spent a lot of time not playing.
"When he came to South Africa, he gave a lot to impress them, so he maybe overloaded somehow and needs to breathe.
"I don’t know if he cannot afford that.
"I’m not sure he is properly fit be it on the pitch or the muscles.
"I think he needs time to get back into his best that will help him be able to handle the pressure.
"Maybe he is tired and needs to breathe because I saw from a distance that the injuries that he got are related to fitness.
"The fatigue in your legs cannot be ignored.
"We will meet in Kenya later this month and I want to have enough time with him for discussions.
"Another issue with most of our African players is mentality especially after you have been scoring but it is nothing that cannot be worked on," he says pointing out to Mbwana Samatta who he knows from his time working with the Tanzania national team.
"With our black or African players, we need to invest a bit more in ourselves and I say this based on what I saw in Mbwana Samatta when he went to Aston Villa.
"I made it known to him that when playing at the highest level in England you need a special fitness trainer who will also even take of your diet.
"I told him I know it is expensive, but he didn’t understand me and then a few months later he was out of England.
"With Caleb he needs that special fitness trainer who looks out into how he rests because there are so many sacrifices that need to be made.
"The injury prevention programmes need to be done to help you stay in the game and keep the fire at Chiefs.
"Some players are not educated about this from their youth days which is why they disappear," says Ndayiragije.
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