Emmanuel is set for his maiden ISL season and is confident that Chennaiyin FC will do well.
| Photo Credit: Chennaiyin FC
For 120-odd football-mad kids at Kigali in Rwanda, Chennaiyin FC’s new signing Emmanuel Imanishimwe is the “president”. Wonder why?
The Rwanda international is a co-founder of the football school where the children are having a ball. In a bid for a better tomorrow, Emmanuel had set up the Bright Football Academy in the company of former National-team colleague Dany Usengimana.
The kids handpicked via trials in the capital city receive training, clothing and equipment for free while those who enrol themselves at the centre on their own are charged a nominal fee. It is all about “giving back” to the beautiful game for the 31-year-old.
“The person who coached me when I was young (Eric Habimana) is now heading our academy. I wanted to do something for him… I want the youngsters to be successful. That is why I am doing everything I can,” Emmanuel, set for his maiden Indian Super League, told The Hindu.
“We select players from Kigali to come to our academy. Our sponsors and well-wishers have also contributed to this journey. We want to make it a bigger project in the future. It is not easy in terms of funding, but we will keep trying,” he added.
Emmanuel’s magnanimity, though, does not extend to the pitch he competes on. “We, at Chennaiyin, want to win something. I feel that we will do something. We have good players and we are going to fight.”
A ‘Bright’ beginning in Indian football is what the versatile defender is aiming for.
Published – August 30, 2026 06:59 pm IST
