RWANDA’S U-17 team has started preparations for the sthird round return leg tie against Burkina Faso slated for the weekend of November 22-23 at Amahoro stadium.

The junior wasps under the guidance of Germany born coach Michael Weiss had theyr first training session yesterday morning at Remera artificial turf.

"The battle that awaits the U-17 team is a national issue and that is why I call upon everybody to come and support the youngsters,” said Weiss.

Weiss also expressed confidence about his team’s chances of seeing off Burkina Faso in Kigali and qualify for the African Youth Championship finals due in Algeria next year.

"We only need to rectify a few things that didn’t right in the first leg. We need a win at home to be able to reach next year’s finals.”

But the German wants to see his star player and APR midfielder Hegman Ngoma to step up his game in the return leg against the West African country.

And he believes that Rayon Sports’ Jamal Mwiseneza and Mukura’s Abdu Karim Hakizimana would also provide the ammunition that could see off Burkina Faso, whole the striking pair of Christian Uwumukiza and Ernest Kwizera leads the search for goals.

Weiss’s team need just to win 1-0 to make it to Algiers but the coach knows it won’t be as easy as it sounds.

Ernest Kwizera’s goal in the 2-1 defeat in Ouagadougou could prove significant going into the return leg.

Burkina Faso now needs a draw in Kigali to seal their qualification while Rwanda needs a win without conceding a goal to progress to the finals.

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