Mvuyekure indebted to Duncan Ochieng

After keeping back to back clean sheets with Rwanda in the final rounds of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, Tusker goalkeeper Emery Mvuyekure has waxed lyrical to retired Kenyan international Duncan Ochieng for shaping him to assume the starting roles at the national team.

Mvuyekure marked his return to the starting team after six years in the cold with an unblemished record against Mozambique and Cameroon.

Rwanda who narrowly missed a slot in the finals after finishing third wrapped their pool F qualification campaign with a barren draw with the former before piping the later by a solitary goal.

The custodian revealed that working under Ochieng who has a rich collection of Harambee Stars caps under his belt at Tusker helped him remain mean between the sticks in the qualifiers and predicted to keep the Rwanda One tag going forward.

Prior to the qualifiers, Mvuyekure had last played for the Amavubi during the 2015 edition of the Cecafa Senior Challenge.

The 28-year old who has been facing off with Rayon Sports custodian Olivier Kwizera in the race to succeed long serving Rwanda One Eric Ndayishimiye revealed that he is capable of pulling top drawer saves both at the club and national team level courtesy of working under the eye of Ochieng.

“Duncan played at the top level for many years. From the time, he was named as the Tusker goalkeepers’ trainer, my game shot up to a new level. I have been consistent in the league and it was not a surprise to keep clean sheets with the national team. Initially, I used to warm the bench at the national team but he has transformed me and I think after impressing in the two matches, the starting roles are mine for keeps,” he said.

Mvuyekure who former APR goalkeeper who jetted back to the country last Sunday also predicted that the season's golden glove will head to the Ruaraka based club.

Ochieng was appointed Tusker goalkeepers' trainer last year, replacing Haggai Azande who is the current Stars keepers' trainer.