Kigali, Rwanda, June 4: Rwanda national team soccer coach Johnny Mckinstry has beefed up his striking force by roping in France based, Elias Uzamukunda to sharpen his side blunt striking force.
Uzamukunda stars for French Ligue club ASF Anderieux has been included in the squad which some will play in the Commemoration Cup tournament from 6-7June and 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier against Mozambique in the week of 13-14 June.
Rwanda has been firing blanks in the away games the last eighteen months and the Amavubi mentor is reported to have said that the inclusion of the French based star will have an added edge in his team’s frontline.
Uzamukunda stars for French Ligue club ASF Anderieux has been included in the squad which some will play in the Commemoration Cup tournament from 6-7June and 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier against Mozambique in the week of 13-14 June.
Rwanda has been firing blanks in the away games the last eighteen months and the Amavubi mentor is reported to have said that the inclusion of the French based star will have an added edge in his team’s frontline.
The Amavubi mentor has also taken on board two foreign based stars, Haruna Niyonzima (Young Africans FC Tanzania) and Kenya based, Abouba Sibomana (Gor Mahia Kenya) but cautioned that they will have to learn fast.
Mckinstry said the Commemoration Cup tournament which has drawn South Sudan, Kenya and Tanzania will enable him to select a team that will play against Mozambique in Afcon assignment.
He said that some of the upcoming players who were in the team that was recently booted out of the Rio Olympics Africa Under-23 Championship by Uganda will be taken on board but will have to fight for their places.
“The Commemoration Cup is a plat form for the new faces to prove themselves for a place in the final squad to face Mozambique,” he said.
He observed that some of the players that featured in the Under-23 side have what it takes to earn a place in the starting line up senior.
“I have recently spent a lot of time working with the under-23 side. Three or four players will surely be part of the starting XI.
“So it is a good opportunity to get the senior players to fit into our training programmes .It is important to get the team shape,” he observed.
He added that he is not worried with the duration of the team’s preparations soon after Commemoration Cup, saying time was on his side to select, prepare and blend a formidable side for the Afcon qualifier against Mozambique.
“We have some extra days to prepare for Mozambique game, so we shall really try and achieve the desired team shape,” he declared.
The special international soccer tournament has been organized to commemorate, players, coaches and administrators that lost their lives during 1994 genocide against Tutsis and moderate Hutus.
According to the local media, 70 players are on the record to have fallen prey to the mass killings.
The mass killings that lasted for weeks were systematically organized and implemented by the extremist elements in the Hutu-dominated government that held the reins of power at the time against the minority Tutsis and moderate Hutus.
Mckinstry said the Commemoration Cup tournament which has drawn South Sudan, Kenya and Tanzania will enable him to select a team that will play against Mozambique in Afcon assignment.
He said that some of the upcoming players who were in the team that was recently booted out of the Rio Olympics Africa Under-23 Championship by Uganda will be taken on board but will have to fight for their places.
“The Commemoration Cup is a plat form for the new faces to prove themselves for a place in the final squad to face Mozambique,” he said.
He observed that some of the players that featured in the Under-23 side have what it takes to earn a place in the starting line up senior.
“I have recently spent a lot of time working with the under-23 side. Three or four players will surely be part of the starting XI.
“So it is a good opportunity to get the senior players to fit into our training programmes .It is important to get the team shape,” he observed.
He added that he is not worried with the duration of the team’s preparations soon after Commemoration Cup, saying time was on his side to select, prepare and blend a formidable side for the Afcon qualifier against Mozambique.
“We have some extra days to prepare for Mozambique game, so we shall really try and achieve the desired team shape,” he declared.
The special international soccer tournament has been organized to commemorate, players, coaches and administrators that lost their lives during 1994 genocide against Tutsis and moderate Hutus.
According to the local media, 70 players are on the record to have fallen prey to the mass killings.
The mass killings that lasted for weeks were systematically organized and implemented by the extremist elements in the Hutu-dominated government that held the reins of power at the time against the minority Tutsis and moderate Hutus.
By: Joel Chirwa
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