She Amavubi head Coach Jean-Baptiste Kayiranga has summoned forty players for preparations ahead of next month’s CECAFA Women Challenge Cup, which will be staged in Kigali from May 11-22.
The tournament 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 their participation.
The 40 players have been called up for a pre-selection stint which will be conducted between April 15-18at Kigali Stadium in Nyamirambo and Ferwafa turf in Remera.
"All the summoned players will join camp on Sunday (yesterday). We will then hold training sessions from April 15-18 with an aim of selecting the final 30-woman squad, which will return to camp the following week to fully concentrate on intensive preparations ahead of the tournament,” said Kayiranga.
Kayiranga added that players were picked after a nationwide scouting mission conducted from last week aimed at searching for players that can make the team that will be challenging for honours at the CECAFA Women Challenge Cup.
Except for Tanzania-based Clementine Mukamana who plies her trade with Kigoma Wfc, the rest of the players who were scheduled to enter camp at Hotel Hilltop on Sunday night – after their respective club commitments – the rest of the team members are locally based.
At the 2016 edition in Uganda, She-Amavubi, then under the tutelage of Grace Nyinawumuntu, were eliminated in the group stage after defeats against Tanzania and Ethiopia.
Tanzania ultimately won the trophy after defeating Kenya in the final while Ethiopia overcame hosts Uganda to take third place.
Provisional squad:
Goalkeepers: Judith Nyirabashyitsi (AS Kigali), Helene Uwizeyimana (AS Kigali), Diane Nyirabatoni (Bugesera) and Zaki Umubyeyi (Scandinavia) .
Defenders: Clementine Mukamana (Kigoma, Tanzania), Louise Maniraguha (AS Kigali), Vestine Uwamariya (Inyemera), Constance Muhawimana (Inyemera), Angelique Uwizerwa (AS Kigali), Immacule Uwimbabazi (Kamonyi), Providence Mukahirwa (Fatima Musanze academy), Edith Umulisa (Scandinavia), Jeanne Claire Uwamahoro Mataye (AS Kigali), Jeannette Ukwinkunda (Scandinavia), Miriam Nyiransanzebera (Kamonyi), Sifa Uwanyirigirira (AS Kigali), Anne Marie Nyirahabimana (Scandinavia), Joselyne Mukantaganira (AS Kigali) and Goreti Niyonkuru (ES Mutunda)
Midfielders: Gloria Nibagwire (Scandinavia), Alice Karimba (AS Kigali), Nadine Mukandayisenga (Scandinavia), Aline Yankurije (ES Mutunda), Marta Nyiramwiza (AS Kigali), Marie Jeanne Nyirahashimana (Scandinavia Wfc), Chadia Uwamahirwa (AS Kigali) and Kevine Uwihirwe (Scandinavia)
Forwards: Clautilde Ufitinema (AS Kigali), Sophie Niyomugaba Madudu (AS Kigali), Marie Claire Uwamahoro (AS Kigali), Dorothe Mukeshimana (AS Kigali), Djamila Abimana Mwiza (Scandinavia), Leony Kanyenyeri (Inyemera), Dudja Umwaliwase (AS Kigali), Adelice Uwimpuwe (ES Mutunda), Marie Claire Mushimiyimana (Scandinavia), Yvonne Umuhoza (ES Mutunda), Anne Marie Ibangarye (Scandinavia), Teddy Nyirandikumana (Inyemera) and Liberate Ntibagwire (AS Kigali).
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