Thursday

Seychelles Vs Rwanda 2pm

AMAVUBI Head Coach Vincent Mashami has called on his players to go into today’s game  against Seychelles game with a ‘must-win mentality’.

Today’s tie is the two countries’ first leg of their World Cup preliminary round qualifier on Thursday.

The game starts 2pm CAT at the 10,000-seater Linite Stadium in the Seychelles capital, Victoria.

Rwanda play away to the Pirates of Seychelles in the first leg before hosting the reverse encounter on September 10 at Kigali Stadium.

The Seychelles host Amavubi barely four days after appointing Dutchman Jan Mark as interim coach following the dismissal of Gavin Jeanne, allegedly for the team’s poor showing at this year’s Indian Ocean Games in July, in Mauritius.

Speaking to reporters after arriving in the Seychelles on Wednesday morning, Mashami said that his team would hold a warm-up training later in the afternoon, and challenged his players to have a ruthless approach to the game.

"We are here to try everything we can for a victory,” said the former APR coach. "I know the game won’t be easy, and the players are aware too. We are ready for the challenge.”

He added: "We need a good result away so we can ease pressure off our shoulders in the return leg, at home. To do that, we have to be ruthless – especially in the attack – on Thursday (today). We should score as many goals as possible.”

Mashami and his men are expected back in the country on Friday where they will immediately embark on preparations for the decisive clash.

After the two-legged tie against the Seychelles, Mashami will have just ten days to put together a team that will face Ethiopia for a ticket to the 2020 African Nations Championships (CHAN) finals tournament in Cameroun.

Initiated in 2009, the CHAN tournament is designed exclusively for players who feature in their domestic leagues. Rwanda, which hosted its 2016 edition, has been to the continent’s second biggest football showpiece three times in 2011, 2016 and 2018, respectively.

editor@newtimesrwanda.com