In the last three years Rwanda’s Amavubi Stars managed to make it to the semi-finals of the Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup, but national coach, Croatian tactician Tucak Branko the team’s performance at their years’ edition was fair despite failing to take it to the last four. ARTHUR EMINU ORYADA makes an analysis why the Amavubi Stars lost the plot this time round.

Poor start

For a two week tournament that has no quarter finals, a 4-0 loss at the hands of arc-rivals Uganda Cranes was possibly the worst start that spelt doom for the Amavubi Stars.

The team played brilliantly in the first half and actually dominated play, but retuned on resumption to give away balls like a primary school team.

The Cranes simply run at the Rwanda defense at ease as the Rwanda midfield went do be. Coach Tucak Branko and the technical bench should have warned his team that they had to play tight and not open-up easily.

Ndoli’s injury

Like it’s said the experience and timely calls by a goalkeeper helps a team greatly. After first choice goalkeeper Jean Claude Ndoli’s injury against Uganda in the first game, second choice Patrick Rutayisire proved that he will be a star for the future.

Rutayisire Tried his luck, but showed some weakness in commanding his defenders, poor game reading and bad interception of crosses.

Perhaps if Ndoli had not got injured, Rwanda could have conceded less and made it to the last four. However, this was Rutayisire’s chance that helped him get some experience.

Besides Ndoli, Bonaventure Hategekimana, Vigurumera Yahya and Abdul Uwimana all got injuries that could keep them out for some time.

Blunt attack

Although Rwanda was one of the teams that scored many goals, the striking line of Jean Lomami and Kamana Bokota got all the chances to score from inside the box than any other team in the tournament.

The attack had chances against Uganda and failed to score, came up against Tanzania and simply left their scoring boots in Kigali , but worst still when they needed many goals against Zanzibar they scored three in the first half and went to bed in the next 45 minutes.

Lack of Physical approach

Rwanda ’s 2-0 loss to Tanzania was clear indication that the Amavubi Stars need to adjust and employ some physical approach to their rich talent.

Football has become too tight and physical to a large extent that the hard teams will most times hassle and push teams with softer approach all the way to a loss.

The Amavubi showed some good touches of brilliance in the way they moved the ball, but their lack of physical approach again was a let-down. This is a wake-up call for the technical bench as they look ahead of the 2010 World Cup/Africa Nations Cup qualifiers.

Tactical mediocrity

It was evident that as much as the Amavubi Stars brought a fairly young team, there was an element of tactical mediocrity that was evident.

In all the games that Rwanda lost to Uganda and Tanzania , the midfield was totally lost and this caused more pressure on the defense manned by Aloua Gaseruka (one of the best defenders in the tournament).

Coach Branko failed to make necessary adjustments in time to close out this gap that became an avenue to push Rwanda into conceding goals.

Rwanda ’s pattern of play remained constant and this showed some sort of tactical problems. However, coach Branko says he was simply trying to learn something about some of his young players as they plan for other events.

Referee Ndinya’s poor show

Although the referee is the final man on a football pitch, Kenya ’s Alfred Ndinya could perhaps be blamed for contributing to Rwanda early exit from the Cecafa showpiece.

The experienced referee who has had one of his worst tournaments started by denying Rwanda an open penalty against Uganda when striker Labama Bokota was brought down from behind in the box against Uganda.

The referee waved on as Rwanda players and bench looked very unhappy. His gifted penalty to Tanzania against Uganda that denied Rwanda chance to qualify was another of Ndinya’s calls that perhaps brings in the aspect of his poor show which cost Rwanda .

"Because the Cecafa President comes from Tanzania , Ndinya was told to favour Tanzania so that the Kilimanjaro Stars could qualify for the semis,” said an official who did not want to be mentioned. But although Cecafa Secretary General Nicholas Musonye rubbished the claim, I think Ndinya’s poor show cost Rwanda.

Reliance on young players

As much as it’s good to always give the young players a test of such tournaments, many of Rwanda ’s junior players could not match senior players from other teams.

Teams like Uganda and Tanzania which beat Rwanda in the group stage even went an extra mile by inviting two of their professional based players who helped their teams blend well.

For Rwanda which last won this Cup almost 10 years ago, I believe calling in a handful of professionals to help guide the team and help the junior players settle in well could have done wonders.

Exit in the group stage at the Cecafa Challenge Cup is not the end of the road for Rwanda , but a good wake-up call for the Football Association, Ferwafa, technical bench of the teams and all football loving Rwandans.

The event was truly an eye opener ahead of the bigger battle, the 2010 World Cup/Africa Nations Cup qualifiers.

Ends