NEWLY appointed head coach of the national women’s senior football team, Jean-Baptiste Kayiranga, is on a nationwide scouting mission to look for players that can make the team that will be challenging for CECAFA Women Challenge Cup.

The tournament runs from May 11-22 and will attract teams from eight countries, namely; Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Burundi, Ethiopia, Djibouti and hosts Rwanda. Eritrea, Burundi, Zanzibar and South Sudan are yet to confirm participation.

Kayiranga is accompanied on the countrywide tour by assistant coaches Shabani Mbarushimana and Seraphine Umunyana, goalkeeping coach Claude Maniraguha as well as FERWAFA’s executive member in charge of women’s football, Christine Mukangoboka.

The tour started last week and ends tomorrow before Kayiranga names a provisional 40-player squad on Monday. The coaching staff has so far watched training sessions of Gicumbi-based Inyemera, ES Mutunda, Bugesera women’s football club and Rambura women football club in Nyabihu District.

Today, Kayiranga will watch the league game between Scandinavia and Inyemera in Rubavu District while Umunyana will be at the game that pits Kamonyi and Gakenke, with Mbarushimana closely following the Bugesera-AS Kigali encounter in Bugesera.

At the 2016 edition in Uganda, She-Amavubi, then under the tutelage of Grace Nyinawumuntu, was eliminated in the group stage after defeats to Tanzania and Ethiopia.

Tanzania won the trophy after defeating Kenya in the final while Ethiopia overcame hosts Uganda to take third place.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw