Tomislav admits pressure is on

Africa Youth Championship

Today
Group A
Rwanda v  Mali  3pm
Ghana    v Cameroon 5:15pm

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Today is a D-day which everyone has been waiting for when 16th Africa Youth Championship gets underway this afternoon at the sparkling renovated Amahoro national stadium.

The opening ceremony is scheduled to start at 2 o’clock and in attendance will be high profile government officials, Caf president Issa Hayatou, several football federations’ presidents from across the continent, presidents of regional football bodies and SportFive officials among others.

But the most important activity is the tournament opening match which pits the host nation Rwanda against Mali in group A.

Obradovic Tomislav and his youngsters will be hoping to leave no stone unturned in their pursuit for success in their match at the finals of the continental bi-annual championship. The opening day’s second match pits two West African rivals Ghana and Cameroon at the same venue.

Ghana’s Black Satellites will rely on their players, who participated at the 2007 Fifa Under-17 World Cup in Korea while Cameroon is dominated by home based players.

Unlike Rwanda and Mali, who have not won this trophy, both Ghana and Cameroon have won it three times between themselves with the former having it twice against one for the later.

Playing at home with home with the full house behind you is what Tomislav and his players and the entire nation has been waiting for in recent years in a championship of such high magnitude.

And here is the day when the nation and the region must fancy their chances of putting themselves up there with the best on the continent. For sure Rwanda needs to survive the group stage.

With players such as APR’s Haruna Niyonzima, the captain, Jean Baptist Mugiraneza and Jean Claude Iranzi commanding the midfield, Elias Uzamukunda on the attack as Jean Luc Ndayishimiye in goal, the hosts should take their chance against an unfamiliar Mali side.

Rwandans will be expecting to harvest the fruits of their three-week training camp in North Africa and another full week of light training sessions back a home behind closed doors.

Tomislav spoke to Sunday Sport yesterday and said, "My boys are ready to cover every corner of the field against Mali. We want to win the first game, nothing less.”

"We know the pressure that awaits us, especially when the stadium is expected to be full to capacity but we know how to win the games.

"My team is technically, mentally and physiologically fit and ready not only for the first game against Mali but the entire tournament,” stated the Croat.

Leading the nation in such a historic football match, Tomislav plans to stick to the 3-5-2 playing system. He believes that a team that dominates the field battles wins matches.

However, Mali know what it takes to win these games considering their best showing at the 1995 edition in Nigeria where they finished fourth.

Mali ousted Tunisia and Benin on the road to Rwanda.

Mali has proven a fine pedigree at youth level having finished third at the 1999 Fifa World Youth Championship in Nigeria with players like Barcelona’s Seydou Keita in their ranks.

Mali’s youth side coached by Djibril Drame spent nearly two weeks training in neighboring Burundi preparing for this championship.

The West African side, one of the five from that region playing at this championship, is top quality oppositions with a number of professional players in their ranks.

Adama Traore (PSG, France), striker Cheibane Traore (Koulikoro), Souleymane Diabate (Jomo Cosmos, South Africa and Oumar Kone (CSK Moscow) are the players to watch by the home team.

Coach Drame said on Friday that he is under no pressure, adding that his team will play their usual game.

"We are looking forward to playing good football and I expect pressure from Kigali fans but my boys will try to put this aside and win the game,” admitted Drame.

Ends