The national football team head coach, Johnny Mckinstry, has urged his players to be more focused in the new year which he described as ‘a vital year for Amavubi Stars.’ His new year’s message to players, coaching staff and the team’s administrative unit is “to be focused like never before.”
The national football team head coach, Johnny Mckinstry, has urged his players to be more focused in the new year which he described as ‘a vital year for Amavubi Stars.’
His new year’s message to players, coaching staff and the team’s administrative unit is "to be focused like never before.”
Mckinstry said 2015 was quiet rough for the national team, especially after dropping 33 places in FIFA/Coca-Cola monthly rankings. Rwanda was ranked 68th in January and is number 101 in the latest rankings released earlier this month.
With Rwanda hosting the 4th Championship of African Nations (CHAN) next month and making her debut at the biannual continental showpiece, it makes 2016 the biggest year in football that Amavubi Stars have had at least in the last ten years, he said. 2016 will also see the Amavubi battle in the qualifiers of the 2017 AFCON to be staged in Gabon.
"We have two important battles to fight next year, CHAN tournament next month, and then qualifiers for 2017 AFCON. We can’t afford losing focus, especially now, 2016 is a big year for the national team,” the Irish coach said.
"We are drawn in a tough pool in CHAN. We have to style up our game in all aspects, if we are to survive the deadly group and it is an achievable target. The tournament will require every player to be at his best. Teamwork and self-confidence, but not overconfidence, is also very crucial,” he added.
The former Sierra Leone coach further revealed to Times Sport that he has already started watching videos of Amavubi’s group opponents, namely Ivory Coast, Morocco and Gabon, and is confident reaching knock-out stages is a possibility
"Ivory Coast is arguably our biggest threat, they play energetic and attacking football, same as Gabon but the former is more dangerous. Morocco and us (Amavubi) have quite a similar style of play. Our boys have to be psychologically strong and, of course, physically outstanding.”
Rwanda is the first East African country to organise the second most glamorous football event on the continent. Rwanda will host the 12-country show in three cities, namely Kigali, Rubavu and Huye.
The opening game will pit Rwanda against Ivory Coast on January 16, 2016, at 4pm at Amahoro national stadium.
Pools
Pool A (Amahoro stadium, Kigali): Rwanda, Ivory Coast, Gabon and Morocco
Pool B (Huye stadium, South Province): DR Congo, Angola, Cameroun and Ethiopia
Pool C (Kigali regional stadium): Tunisia, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and Niger
Pool D (Umuganda stadium, Rubavu): Zimbabwe, Mali, Uganda and Zambia.