By Andrew Jackson Oryada BBC Sport, East Africa

Josip Kuze is the new coach of the Amavubi Stars

Former Dynamo Zagreb coach Josip Kuze will take charge of the Rwanda national team just two weeks after the departure of German coach Michael Nees.

The Rwandan Football Federation (FRF) decided not to renew the contract of Nees after the Amavubi Stars failed to qualify for the 2008 African Nations Cup.

Another Croatian Tomislav Obradovic was appointed by the FRF to handle the national under-20 side.

"Coming to Africa presents me with a big challenge that I have been longing for as a coach," said Kuze who has coached in Croatia, Germany and Japan.

"I know African footballers are strong and talented and finally I have got the chance to handle them."

The RFF President Brigadier general John Bosco Kazura said he was happy they had finally landed an experienced coach.

"We need to give them all the support they need so that they do a great job," Kazura said.

Kuze's first serious assignment starts next month when Rwanda take part in the 2007 regional Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup in Tanzania.

The Amavubi Stars were third last year in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia after beating arch-rivals Uganda in the play-off.

Although the FRF did not reveal how much the two coaches will be paid, they signed two-year contracts that run from 2008 to 2010.

Kuze's biggest challenge will be getting Rwanda back into the 2010 Nations Cup and World Cup when the qualifiers start late next year.