A dark cloud has been cast over the forthcoming international friendly match between Rwanda’s Amavubi Stars and Bahrain.

Quoting Bahrain’s Gulf Daily News (GDN), Bahrain’s football coach Milan Macala and national team manager Hassan Khalfan denied reports of a friendly game with Rwanda despite reports that the match has been listed as an upcoming fixture on Fifa’s official website.

"If we are to play this match, we of course should know about it, but we have no information about this so far,” Khalfan told the GDN.

The Amavubi Stars’ will use the game as preparation for the forthcoming 32nd edition of Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup due in Kampala, Uganda from December 31-January 13.

Amavubi Stars will depart for Bahrain on December 24, two days before the friendly. However according to Gulf Daily News, Bahrain is also set to play a friendly game against China.

Reacting to these reports, Ferwafa’s Chief Executive Officer Jules Kalisa said that they have the invitation letter for the friendly before highlighting that Tucak Branko would use the friendly to assess the team ahead of the two week regional tournament.

In the latest Fifa rankings, Bahrain are ranked 80th after dropping six slots. Just as Branko will use the friendly to add steel to the national team, Bahrain will also use it as part of her preparations for next month’s 19th Gulf Cup football competition in Oman.

The Gulf Cup, a biennial multi-sport championship is one of the most important events for GCC teams.

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