Rwanda’s international Yannick Mukunzi has said he still has a long way to go in achieving his full potential despite being one of the country’s best midfielders of the past decade.
Mukunzi, 24, joined Swedish third tier side Sandviken FC on loan from Rayon Sports last year, and the move was made permanent this year.
The former midfielder of the APR was part of the Rwanda U17starlets playing at the 2011 FIFA U17 World Cup in Mexico and, he says, he’s proud of the progress he’s made over the years and is confident that his career’s better days are ahead.
“I am proud of how far I have come since 2011, there is no question about that… but there is a long way to go and the better days certainly lie ahead,” he said in an interview on Monday.
“My professional career has just started, there is a lot to figure out and to learn.”
Mukunzi has been a regular feature in the squad since making his senior international Rwanda debut in 2015 and has since won 35 caps and scored four goals.
“I believe I still have room for improvement. There is a lot to achieve at club level and in international football [with Rwanda] but I am motivated to keep working and pushing limits.”
The star holding midfielder, who joined Rayon at the end of the 2015-16 season from rivals APR, was a key player as Rayon became the first Rwandan team to reach the quarter-finals of the CAF Confederation Cup in 2018.
Having previously clinched two championships with APR, he also led the Blues to the 2016/2017 league title.