Editor,

RE: "Amavubi have quality to beat Ghana” (The New Times, September 2).

The author wrote, "Football is about basics and if the home side goes by the book, victory can be achieved.”In the first place, to step on the pitch is because you have these basics of control and pass and other basics, but there is a lot more than the basics, like talent. Football is purely about talent.

Let’s talk about the quality that Amavubi (wasps in Kinyarwanda) have. I don’t, unfortunately, see any compared to Ghana. When Floyd Maywhether fought and beat Many Pacman, the fight was balanced and anyone could have carried the day thus making prediction difficult.

However, come later this year when Mayweather takes on Andre Berto – it’s totally unbalanced and the prediction is much easier. However, Berto has a puncher’s chance (a stray punch that can take out Mayweather) but this does not mean he is a better boxer.

Amavubi could have a stray ball that can hit the back of the other net and earn us three points (by slingshot I hope the writer meant a puncher’s chance), but not much talent in comparison to the West Africans.

Another factor is about the beautiful game is the touchline battles. Of course, we all know Avram Grant’s profile and that of Jonny McKinstry. Another factor is the physical attribute to the game: West Africans are known for their strength and pace, which is not the same with East Africans.

Come Saturday—we can keep our fingers crossed for Amavubi win but our quality and talent is raw and average, if not basic. Like the Ugandans say, "For God and my country”. I root for Amavubi!

Kabirigita Ndamira

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Soccer can be very unpredictable and the fact that Ghana are a more experienced team should not in any way intimidate Amavubi.

I do not agree with Mr Ndamira’s assertions. Not only do we have a young squad, they are technically gifted and ambitious. The question that remains is, how prepared are Amavubi to prove themselves.

Has our coach taken his time to study our opponent’s game plan? In the game plan it’s not like he knows what system they’ll use come tomorrow but, hopefully, he’s watched them play many a time to define their most used system.

Which system does he (coach) believe will be good enough for Amavubi? One thing I would like to share is that the midfield is the most sensitive part in soccer, but then again I believe Jonny McKinstry already knows that.

Not to discourage other departments in soccer, but a strong midfield will destroy the opponents’ moves while perfectly organising your own. All in all, we wish the best for Amavubi, hoping we can build our own legacy, starting with the game against Ghana.

Cadeau