Rwanda’s leader Paul Kagame bemoaned his beloved Arsenal after they opened the Premier League season with a loss to newcomers Brentford, saying Gunners fans deserve better than ‘mediocrity’.
The veteran president and long-time Arsenal supporter tweeted a tirade after Brentford returned to their first English top-flight season for 74 years with a 2-0 win over the Gunners on Friday evening.
Kagame, whose country is an official sponsor of Arsenal, said Brentford deserved the win but the Gunners had soul-searching to do.
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‘The game itself aside Arsenal and the fans don’t deserve to kind of get used to this….NO !!! I say this as one of the big fans of Arsenal. The change has taken to long to come!’ the president tweeted in a three-part post-match screed to his 2.4 million followers early Saturday.
AfrKagame, a former rebel leader who has ruled Rwanda since the aftermath of the genocide in 1994, hammered club management over planning and questioned decision-making around the acquisition of new players.
‘We just must NOT excuse or Accept mediocrity. A team has to be built with the purpose to win win-win. So that when we lose….it was not to be expected!’ Kagame said.
‘I am sure we all know on whose shoulders the heaviest burden rests. I hope they know too or even accept it!!!’
Rwanda became the official tourism partner of Arsenal in 2018, with players sporting a “Visit Rwanda” logo on their shirt sleeves during matches.
The three-year deal was aimed at drawing tourists and investors to the tiny east African nation, and burnishing its reputation as a safe, sought-after destination.
Kagame often expresses his opinions about the club’s performances during summits and on social media.
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK