Rwanda U15 coach Sosthène Habimana admits his side has drawn a tough group and his boys will have put on a fight if they are to qualify for the knockout stages of the 2023 CECAFA U15 Championship.
The regional youth tourney kicks off in Njeru on Saturday, November 4 and runs through November 18, bringing together eight countries.
Rwanda was pooled in Group B alongside Tanzania, Somalia and Zanzibar. They are beginning their group stages campaign on Sunday, November 5, against Zanzibar before taking on Tanzania on November 8and Somalia on November 10.
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Habimana said he has selected the best possible squad which he hopes can get maximum points to finish on top and advance to the semi-finals but reminded his players to be caution and win every game serious for them to achieve their mission: winning the tournament.
"Our mission is to win the Championship in Uganda. We have a good squad which has trained well and we are confident of achieving this target. It is a tough competition but it is also a learning process for the young boys,” an upbeat Habimana said.
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"Tanzania, Zanzibar and Somalia are good sides with good players, but we also have a talented group of players, who are hungry for success and I hope the matches leave a positive impact on my team,” he added.
The country’s participation in the CECAFA U15 tournament marks another significant milestone while it also highlights the country’s commitment to developing young talents and nurturing a sportsmanship culture.
"We know what we came to do. We also know that we have an uphill task but we are ready for the challenge ahead of us. It is a good platform for the young lads to show what they are capable of,” Habimana noted.
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The last CECAFA U15 edition was held in 2019 in Asmara, Eritrea. Uganda won the tournament after beating Kenya in the final.