The national football team (Amavubi) head coach has promised an improved performance at this year’s CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup compared to the last edition. The tournament will take place in Kenya from December 3-17.

"We need to put the past behind us and focus on the future. We’re looking forward to doing better than we did in the last campaign,” said head coach Antoine Hey.

Hey said he is convinced that his young team can do a better job at CECAFA because the team is motivated and ready to do a good job.

"We are working hard every day and we have a great team with good qualities. We will go to CECAFA to win. We are well aware of the expectations of the fans we don’t want to disappoint them,” Hey noted.

Rwanda also wants to use the regional tournament as part of preparations for next year’s Africa Nations Championship, which will run from January 12 through February 4.

Amavubi are currently training at Amahoro Stadium and will conclude the training on Friday morning before their departure to Kenya in the afternoon.

Rwanda are in the same as group as hosts Kenya, Kilimanjaro Stars of Tanzania, the Zanzibar Heroes and guest team, the Mediterranean Knights of Libya, who are also preparing for the 2018 CHAN finals in Morocco.

After the opening game against hosts Kenya, Rwanda will next face Zanzibar on December 5; take on Libya on December 7 before concluding the group stage action with a date against Tanzania on December 9.

Defending champions Uganda have been placed in Group B alongside Burundi, South Sudan, Ethiopia and another guest nation, Zimbabwe.

Rwanda last won the regional tournament in 1999 after beating Kenya 3-1 in the final at Amahoro National Stadium while in 2015 it lost to Uganda 1-0 on final that was held in Kenya.

Last year, CECAFA failed to stage its two main annual competitions – the Senior Challenge Cup and Kagame Club Championship.

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