The Amavubi stars depart for Dar es Salaam, Tanzania today aboard Kenya Airways ahead of the GTV Cecafa senior Challenge Cup that kicks-off this weekend. The 20-man team leaves at 11am for the two-week tournament.

Atraco‘s Donatien Tuyisenge (defender) has been rewarded for his 2006/07 outstanding league performance with a call to represent Rwanda in the regional tournament.

Other players to earn first calls include: Hegman Ngoma (APR), Arafat Serugendo (Mukura) and Roger Tuyisenge (Rayon Sport).Dropped players include Police goal custodian Ben Mandela, Eric Serugaba, Daniel Karekezi, Abubakar Nshimiyimana and Rodriquez Murengenzi. Atraco’s Jean Shyaka has also been left out of the squad.

Rwanda has been drawn in group B of the East and Central Africa Senior Challenge Cup and face Eritrea on Sunday in the opener. Other countries in group B are: Uganda and Djibouti. 

Group A will have hosts Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi and Somalia while group C will comprise of Sudan, Ethiopia and Zanzibar. Tanzania face Kenya in the Cecafa opener slated for Saturday. Rwanda finished third last year under Michael Nees in Ethiopia but they would be hoping to go a step or two better under new coach Josip Kuze.

Meanwhile, Amavubi Stars defeated Atraco 2-0 at Nyamirambo artificial turfed stadium.
Amavubi strikers Labama Kamana Bokota and Abedi Mulenda were on target for the national team.

The Amavubi team:
Eric Ndayiragije (Atraco), and Jean Claude Ndoli (APR), Ismail Nshutinamagara (Atraco), Bonaventure Hategikimana (Rayon), Aloua Gaseruka (APR), Aimable Rucogoza (Rayon), Mbuyu Twite (APR), Donatien Tuyisenge (Atraco), Olivier Uwingabire (Rayon), Elias Ntaganda (APR), Patrick Mafisango (Atraco), Manfred Kizito (Atraco), Jean Baptista Mugiraneza (APR), Haruna Niyonzima (APR), Hegman Ngoma (APR) Arafat Serugendo (Mukura), Labama Bokota (Rayon), Abedi Mulenda (Atraco), Roger Tuyisenge (Rayon) and Elias Uzamukunda (APR).

Head coach: Josip Kuze
Assistant coaches: Capt. Jean Marie Ntagwabira, Antoinne Rutsindura, Thomas Higiro Team Manager: Jean Pierre Bavuzingango.
Ends